[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2679 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2679
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 15, 2016
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs 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. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS,
MITIGATION, TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATION OF HEALTH
CONDITIONS RELATING TO EXPOSURE TO BURN PITS AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7330B. 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.--(1) The Secretary shall establish within the
Department 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).
``(2) The Secretary shall establish the center of excellence under
paragraph (1) through the use of--
``(A) the directives and policies of the Department in
effect as of the date of the enactment of the Helping Veterans
Exposed to Burn Pits Act;
``(B) the recommendations of the Comptroller General of the
United States and Inspector General of the Department in effect
as of such date; and
``(C) guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense under
section 313 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112-239; 10 U.S.C. 1074 note).
``(b) Selection of Site.--In selecting the site for the center of
excellence established under subsection (a), the Secretary 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 track record of publishing information
relating to 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 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 systems of the
Department 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 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 medical facilities of the
Department 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 open burn pit 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 the
first five fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of
the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 73 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 7330A the following new item:
``7330B. Center of excellence in prevention, diagnosis, mitigation,
treatment, and rehabilitation of health
conditions relating to exposure to burn
pits and other environmental exposures.''.
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