[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2084

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish an outreach program to 
 inform members of the Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits of 
          the risks of toxic exposure, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2023

 Mr. Welch (for himself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish an outreach program to 
 inform members of the Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits of 
          the risks of toxic exposure, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Toxic Exposure Education for 
Servicemembers Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. OUTREACH TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES REGARDING POSSIBLE 
              TOXIC EXPOSURE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish--
            (1) a new risk assessment for toxic exposure for members of 
        the Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits; and
            (2) an outreach program to inform such members--
                    (A) regarding such risk of toxic exposure; and
                    (B) regarding benefits and support programs 
                furnished by the Secretary of Defense (including 
                eligibility requirements and timelines) regarding toxic 
                exposure.
    (b) Promotion.--The Secretary of Defense shall promote the outreach 
program required under subsection (a) to members of the Armed Forces 
assigned to work near burn pits by direct mail, email, text messaging, 
and social media.
    (c) Publication.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall publish on a 
website of the Department of Defense a list of resources furnished by 
the Secretary for--
            (1) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who 
        experienced toxic exposure in the course of serving as a member 
        of the Armed Forces;
            (2) dependents and caregivers of such members and veterans; 
        and
            (3) survivors of such members and veterans who receive 
        death benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.
    (d) Toxic Exposure Defined.--In this section, the term ``toxic 
exposure'' has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code.
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