House Passes Landmark Burn Pits Bill with Ruiz-Authored Provisions to Get Veterans Presumptive Benefits 

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3967, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021, or the Honoring our PACT Act, comprehensive toxic exposure legislation that seeks to address the full gamut of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans' access to earned benefits and care.

At the center of the bipartisan legislation are provisions authored by Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) to establish a presumption of service connection for 23 conditions, including respiratory conditions and cancers for approximately 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards.

"Today is a historic day in the fight to get veterans who are currently sick and dying due to their burn pit exposure the care they desperately need," said Dr. Ruiz. "I am thrilled to see the House pass the Honoring our PACT Act to fulfill our nation's promise to take care of our veterans after they serve our nation. In memory of Cathedral City veteran Jennifer Kepner, I have fought tooth and nail to end the use of burn pits and get our heroes in uniform the benefits and care they have earned and deserve. Today, on her birthday, we have honored her memory in passing this life-saving bipartisan bill.

"With my priority to establish a presumption of service connection between veterans' health and their toxic exposure included, the Honoring our PACT Act will make Jennifer's vision for her fellow veterans a reality. I call on the Senate to take up this urgently needed comprehensive legislation without delay. Anything less than the presumptive benefits in the Honoring our PACT Act is a dereliction of our nation's duty to those who have served our nation."

Ruiz has long fought to address the issue of burn pits in Congress. California veteran Jennifer Kepner, a wife and mother from his district who died from pancreatic cancer linked to her burn pit exposure, has been Ruiz's inspiration in this work. Today's vote in the House on the Honoring our PACT Act, which includes a presumption of service connection for pancreatic cancer, falls on Kepner's birthday.

"When our country sent our brave service members on tours of duty, we didn't just expose them to danger from the enemy, but also from our own toxic burn pits. Now, many are sick and dying of respiratory diseases and cancers – and they need access to the health care they have more than earned. Today, the House has taken the first step by passing the Honoring Our PACT Act, which would provide comprehensive toxic exposure coverage to our veterans. I thank Veterans' Affairs Chair Congressman Takano for his leadership. Now, I will be working my hardest to ensure the Senate passes my bill, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. I am grateful to Senator Rubio, Congressman Ruiz and Congressman Fitzpatrick for their partnership on that bill, and will continue to work with them until we ensure that the VA cannot delay or deny care to suffering veterans for one more day." – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

"It is simple. We need to ensure veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins while defending our nation receive the care they need and deserve," said U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). "They are being denied benefits for illnesses directly connected to their service. We do not need another study or academic panel to tell us what we already know. It is long past time for Congress to act, and I remain committed to getting a meaningful and comprehensive bill signed into law."

"Half measures and anything short of comprehensive toxic exposure legislation would leave this issue unresolved, leave countless veterans responsible for continuing to fight their government for what they were promised, and leave a gaping self-inflicted wound to continue to kill those who served their country," said Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America CEO Jeremy Butler. "We must ensure that veterans finally see comprehensive legislation enacted that addresses the most widespread injuries of the post-9/11 wars. Congress should act expeditiously to enact the Honoring Our PACT Act now."

"MOAA supports the House's omnibus comprehensive toxic exposure reform bill, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2021," said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret). "Our Post 9-11 veterans deserve and need a comprehensive solution to address the toxic exposures they faced in service to our country. When our servicemembers deployed, they swore to care for each other, now is the time for our nation to do the same. After two decades of war and millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances, we must ensure all those veterans have access to VA health care reflected in this bill. In addition to caring for the current generation, this comprehensive bill takes important steps to establish needed presumptions for many other generations of veterans who have been overlooked. We seek support from all members of the House."

"All veterans who are affected by the toxins in the aftermath of burn pits will no longer get breadcrumbs," said 9/11 Responder and Advocate John Feal. "They are entitled to the full loaf of bread."

"The Honoring Our PACT Act is a comprehensive solution to improve access to VA health care and benefits for toxic exposed veterans," said VFW National Commander Fritz Mihelcic. "This historic legislation would help millions of veterans by establishing a permanent presumptive framework to address any exposure, foreign or domestic, past, present, and future. It would provide VA health care access for all exposed veterans, create a concession of exposure for burn pits, and would create a list of presumptive conditions associated with burn pits and other exposures. This legislation would help Post 9/11 veterans, Persian Gulf War veterans, K2 veterans, atomic veterans, and Vietnam veterans, including those who served in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The VFW strongly supports the Honoring Our PACT Act and thanks Chairman Takano for introducing this bill. We look forward to its passage this Congress."

"Today what we are seeing with the House vote on PACT Act is the right step for those who have borne the brunt of battle," said Isiah James, Burn Pits 360 Florida Advocate. "It is disheartening that it has taken this long for our nation to even begin to set right the wrongs of generations of neglect to those who go in our stead. This is the least we can do as a nation. As Winston Churchill said: 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much been owed by so many to so few', it was true on the blood-soaked fields of Appomattox, it was true one the beaches and in the skies of Normandy; the killing fields of Vietnam; and it's true today. Let's get this one right."

"The Honoring Our PACT Act includes a critical provision to help veterans establish service connection for several devastating respiratory diseases and cancers," said Jose Ramos, Vice President of Government and Community Relations, Wounded Warrior Project. "Establishing the presumption that these debilitating conditions are related to burn pit exposure will connect veterans to the care and support they've earned and, importantly, extend survivors' benefits to their families if they die. We must pass the Honoring Our PACT Act without delay."

"Veterans exposed to toxic burn pits have waited far too long for the presumption of service connection to be established," said the American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard. "This is why the American Legion supports H.R. 3967 – the Honoring our PACT Act of 2021 which provides a comprehensive framework to improve the presumptive process for burn pit veterans. Urgent action is needed to ensure that veterans have access to the care they need and have earned."

"On behalf of our over 1 million members, DAV is thankful for the House passage of the Honoring our PACT Act as it provides health care, benefits and presumptive diseases linked to toxic exposures," said DAV National Commander Andrew Marshall. "We thank Chairman Takano, Chairwoman Luria, and Representative Ruiz for their leadership and commitment to veterans of all eras suffering from the devastating health and economic impacts created by these exposures."

BACKGROUND

Veterans are now sick and dying from lung diseases, cancers, and respiratory illnesses after living among this toxic cocktail of dust, smoke, and debris while serving our country overseas.

Veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins overseas often face a cumbersome – and sometimes impossible – disability benefit claims process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to get the health care they need.

Last year, Ruiz joined advocates Jon Stewart, John Feal, and Rosie Torres of Burn Pits 360; Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL); and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to introduce H.R. 2372, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act.

In addition to his bipartisan provision from H.R. 2372, the Honoring our PACT Act includes two of Ruiz's bipartisan burn pit bills: H.R. 2433, Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act and H.R. 4398, Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act. The bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act passed with the support of 256 Democrats and 34 Republicans.

Ruiz, the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Burn Pits Caucus, has been a consistent advocate in addressing the military's use of toxic burn pits and helping veterans who have been exposed obtain the benefits and care they need from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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