[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3215-H3216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN SUPPORT OF BIPARTISAN BURN PIT AMENDMENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ruiz) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of three amendments to the 
National Defense Authorization Act which include language from three of 
my bills, the Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act, the Reducing Exposure 
to Burn Pits Act, and the Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers 
Act.
  All three of these amendments are bipartisan here in the House as 
well as in the Senate. I thank my partners and friends here in the 
House, Republican Congressmen Wenstrup and Bilirakis.
  Fighting to ensure our veterans get the care and benefits they have 
earned and deserve has always been, still is, and will always be a 
priority of mine.
  Additionally, all three of these amendments are endorsed by the major 
veterans service organizations, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans 
of America, Disabled American Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior 
Project. All three amendments will help care for servicemembers exposed 
to toxic burn pits.
  Amendment 460 is my Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act. It would 
allow veterans in the burn pit registry to designate someone to update 
the registry with their cause of death. This data is crucial to further 
identify the vast array of illnesses that are causing burn pit-exposed 
servicemembers and veterans to die, and it will help doctors recognize 
early symptoms of life-threatening conditions and save lives.
  The next amendment, 464, is my Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act. It 
would require the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress 
on what the cost would be to get rid of the use of burn pits. This 
amendment will get us one step closer to ending the use of dangerous 
and toxic burn pits to prevent illness.

[[Page H3216]]

  Finally, amendment 503 is my Toxic Exposure Education for 
Servicemembers Act. It would require the Department of Defense to 
establish a new risk assessment for toxic exposure for servicemembers 
who are assigned to work near toxic burn pits. This amendment would 
also require the Department of Defense to establish an outreach program 
to inform servicemembers about the harms associated with working near 
toxic exposures.
  These three amendments all aim to save lives and help prevent 
exposure to toxic burn pits. They do this by requesting the collection 
of data in the hopes of catching associated illnesses and conditions 
faster, educating our servicemembers on the harms associated with them, 
and forging a path forward to end their use.
  I have fought for years to bring attention to this issue and its 
devastating toll on our Nation's servicemembers and their families. 
Time and time again, I have come before this body to tell the stories 
of those whose lives were devastated and forever changed by burn pits.
  I have told the story of Jennifer Kepner, an Air Force veteran from 
Cathedral City in my district. Jennifer was an otherwise healthy mother 
of two who lost her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer likely 
caused by her exposure to burn pits during her military service.
  I have told the story of Alejandro Camacho, from Palm Desert, who 
developed testicular cancer from the toxic fumes, particulate matter, 
and carcinogens he breathed in every day during his service in Iraq.
  Their stories shed light on the obstacles that veterans across the 
country have faced and continue to face to get the care and benefits 
they earned and deserve.
  It is for Jennifer, Alejandro, and the millions of other veterans 
suffering from their burn pit exposures that I founded the bipartisan, 
bicameral Congressional Burn Pits Caucus.
  It is our duty to take care of our veterans who sustained injuries 
and illnesses while they were fighting for our country.
  I am encouraged by the steps we have taken to address how we take 
care of our servicemembers and veterans suffering from toxic exposures.
  The historic passage of the Honoring our PACT Act, led by Ranking 
Member Takano, will provide generational change, giving care and 
support to veterans and their families suffering from illness due to 
their toxic exposure.
  The foundation of the bill was built upon my bill, the Presumptive 
Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act, 
which removes the burden from veterans to prove that 23 illnesses or 
conditions, including various cancers that they are suffering from, are 
due to their service near burn pits.
  However, there is more to do to prevent toxic exposures from 
happening, and I will not stop fighting until our servicemembers are 
safe.

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