[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2237 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2237
To direct the Secretary of Veterans to establish within the Department
of Veterans Affairs a center of excellence in the prevention,
diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 5, 2015
Ms. Esty (for herself and Mr. McDermott) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in
addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans to establish within the Department
of Veterans Affairs a center of excellence in the prevention,
diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn
Pits Act''.
SEC. 2. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, MITIGATION,
TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION OF HEALTH CONDITIONS
RELATING TO EXPOSURE TO BURN PITS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL
EXPOSURES.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish within the Department of Veterans Affairs a center of
excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and
rehabilitation of health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits
and other environmental exposures to carry out the responsibilities
specified in subsection (d). Such center shall be established using--
(1) the directives, policies, and Comptroller General and
Inspector General recommendations in effect as of the date of
the enactment of this Act; and
(2) guidance issued pursuant to section 313 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-
239; 126 Stat. 1692; 10 U.S.C. 1074 note).
(b) Selection of Sites.--In selecting the site for the center of
excellence established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall consider entities that--
(1) are equipped with the specialized equipment needed to
study, diagnose, and treat health conditions relating to
exposure to burn pits and other environmental exposures;
(2) have a publication track record of post-deployment
health exposures among veterans who served in the Armed Forces
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom;
(3) have collaborated with a geosciences department that
has a medical geology division;
(4) have developed animal models and in vitro models of
dust immunology and lung injury consistent with the injuries of
members of the Armed Forces who served in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and
(5) have expertise in allergy and immunology, pulmonary
diseases, and industrial and management engineering.
(c) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall ensure that the center of
excellence collaborates, to the maximum extent practicable, with the
Secretary of Defense, institutions of higher education, and other
appropriate public and private entities (including international
entities) to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection
(d).
(d) Responsibilities.--The center of excellence shall have the
following responsibilities:
(1) To provide for the development, testing, and
dissemination within the Department of Veterans Affairs of best
practices for the treatment of health conditions relating to
exposure to burn pits and other environmental exposures.
(2) To provide guidance for the health system of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense in
determining the personnel required to provide quality health
care for members of the Armed Forces and veterans with health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures.
(3) To establish, implement, and oversee a comprehensive
program to train health professionals of the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense in the treatment
of health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and
other environmental exposures.
(4) To facilitate advancements in the study of the short-
term and long-term effects of exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures.
(5) To disseminate within the military medical treatment
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs best practices
for training health professionals with respect to health
conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures.
(6) To conduct basic science and translational research on
health conditions relating to exposure to burn pits and other
environmental exposures for the purposes of understanding the
etiology of such conditions and developing preventive
interventions and new treatments.
(7) To provide medical treatment to all veterans identified
as part of the burn pits registry established under section 201
of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits
Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527
note).
(e) Use of Burn Pits Registry Data.--In carrying out its
responsibilities under subsection (d), the center shall have access to
and make use of the data accumulated by the burn pits registry
established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38
U.S.C. 527 note).
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``burn pit'' means an area of land located in
Afghanistan or Iraq that--
(A) is designated by the Secretary of Defense to be
used for disposing solid waste by burning in the
outdoor air; and
(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured
incinerator or other equipment specifically designed
and manufactured for the burning of solid waste.
(2) The term ``other environmental exposures'' means
exposure to environmental hazards, including burn pits, dust or
sand, hazardous materials, and waste at any site in Afghanistan
or Iraq that emits smoke containing pollutants present in the
environment or smoke from fires or explosions.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2016 through 2021.
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