Duckworth pushes VA to spot toxic threats faster

Duckworth introduces toxic hazard bill

Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, is introducing legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess toxic hazards in combat zones within 180 days.

What the bill would do

The VA would assess exposure to pollution, radiation or chemicals and recommend whether troops who served there should be presumed exposed and eligible for healthcare and compensation.

Current gap in the system

There is currently no clear mechanism for adding new combat zones to the list of more than a dozen countries and territories where troops are already presumed to have faced toxic exposure.

Five-year reviews required

The bill would require the VA to revisit overseas assignments at least every five years, looking for hazards that may have gone unrecognized in previous assessments.

Iran added as covered zone

Duckworth's bill would add Iran to the list of covered combat zones as a proactive measure, accounting for potential exposure to environmental hazards including damaged oil facilities and chemical weapons.

“With a new generation of troops being thrown into another war in the Middle East, our nation must learn the lessons from previous conflicts and proactively ensure Iran Veterans don't suffer from those same mistakes.”

Building on the PACT Act

The proposal expands on the PACT Act, which opened VA care and benefits to millions of veterans in 2022 after pressure from veterans groups and advocates including comedian Jon Stewart.

PACT Act's impact so far

By May 2024, the VA had approved 1 million claims for healthcare and disability compensation tied to the PACT Act, which eased the burden on veterans proving toxic exposure caused their illnesses.