House Passes Dr. Ruiz’s Burn Pits Priorities as Part of Defense Package 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to address the military's use of toxic burn pits and help educate veterans on benefits they may be entitled to as a result of their service near burn pits as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. Dr. Ruiz's bipartisan provisions will help pave a future free from burn pits and expand outreach programs to service members transitioning home on the impacts of toxic exposure and benefits that are available to them.

"Our nation's service members are exposed to open air burn pits, potentially breathing in toxic fumes and carcinogens from burning batteries, jet fuel, and medical waste," said Dr. Ruiz. "To protect the health of our men and women in uniform, we must end the use of burn pits for good and ensure our service members can access the care they need when they return home. My priorities in this year's defense bill meet those needs by pushing the DOD to identify alternatives to burn pits and providing toxic-exposed service members with the resources they need to seek care. I am glad to see these provisions pass the House, and I will continue fighting on behalf of our nation's veterans to get this legislation signed into law."

BACKGROUND

H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act, invests in future capabilities that will allow the United States to confront the unprecedented challenges facing our nation at home and abroad, while also supporting key improvements in pay for service members and their families.

The defense package includes the following provisions authored by Dr. Ruiz:

1. H.R. 4398, the Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, which requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to include in their budget request to Congress an estimate of funding exclusively dedicated for incinerators and waste-to-energy waste disposal alternatives to burn pits. Currently, there are six open air burn pits still in use by the U.S. military.

2. Amendment: 582: Requires DOD and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to implement educational and outreach programs for service members and their families transitioning home on illnesses and benefits for toxic exposures.

Today's vote in the House follows yesterday's passage of the Honoring our PACT Act, comprehensive legislation to get veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins the care they need.

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