Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act of 2020
Latest action · Sep 30, 2020 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJul 20, 2020
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act of 2020
This bill requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that the first health assessment conducted for a member of the Armed Forces or veteran after such an individual tests positive for a virus certified as a pandemic includes an evaluation of whether the individual has been (1) based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used, or (2) exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or contaminants relating to service in the Armed Forces. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment.
If such an evaluation establishes that an individual was based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used, or that the individual was exposed to toxic airborne chemicals or contaminants, the individual must be enrolled in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry unless they opt out of enrollment.
The VA's Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence must conduct a study on the health impacts of infection with a virus designated as a global pandemic, including the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19), to members of the Armed Forces and veterans who have been exposed to open burn pits and other toxic exposures. The study must be analyzed to assist in preparation for potential future pandemics.
Cosponsors
Members who signed on, in the order they did.
Committees 2
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Veterans' Affairs Committee | Referred Jul 20, 2020 |
| Health Subcommittee | Referred Sep 30, 2020 | |
| House | Armed Services Committee | Referred Jul 20, 2020 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Sep 30, 2020Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Jul 20, 2020Introduced in House
- Jul 20, 2020Referred 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.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 127, July 20, 2020, page H3587.
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 3868 | Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act of 2020 | Identical bill | Jun 2, 2020 |
| HR 6395 | William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 | Related bill | Jan 2, 2021 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to evaluate members of the Armed Forces and veterans who have tested positive for a virus certified as a pandemic for potential exposure to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals or other airborne contaminants, to conduct a study on the impact of such a pandemic on members and veterans with such exposure, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act of 2020
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security.
- Afghanistan
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Asia
- Cardiovascular and respiratory health
- Conflicts and wars
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Fires
- Government studies and investigations
- Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
- Health information and medical records
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Iraq
- Medical research
- Medical tests and diagnostic methods
- Middle East
- Military medicine
- Military operations and strategy
- Military personnel and dependents
- Solid waste and recycling
- Veterans' medical care
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 20, 2020Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
