Golden, Bergman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Gather Important Data About Effects on Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced legislation he is introducing with Republican Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect important data from veterans being screened for COVID-19 who have also been exposed to harmful toxins from burn pits during service in Afghanistan and Iraq. ThePandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals to determine whether veterans and servicemembers undergoing testing for COVID-19 have been exposed to burn pits, enroll qualified veterans in the national Burn Pits Registry if necessary, and investigate any links between coronavirus risks and burn pit exposure.

"Burn pits were just a fact of daily life in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Golden. "So many in my generation of servicemembers have been exposed and we need to better understand the short and long-term health risks."

Burn pits were a common way for American servicemembers in Afghanistan and Iraq to dispose of waste while deployed. The practice was banned in 2010, although an exception was made if there is no feasible alternative. Many servicemembers have reported respiratory problems after being exposed to burn pit smoke.

While the long-term health impacts of fumes from burn pits are unclear, the toxins in burn pit smoke may affect the skin, eyes, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract and internal organs. The VA's burn pit registry has reached 200,000 individuals who have potential for toxic exposure, but outside groups have estimated the true number may be more than 3 million.

Golden and Bergman intend to propose their legislation as an amendment to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is on the House floor next week. Companion legislation, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), was included in the Senate's version of the NDAA.