# Duckworth pushes VA to spot toxic threats faster

> Senator Tammy Duckworth introduces legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess combat zone hazards within 180 days and expand toxic exposure benefits.
- Title: Duckworth pushes VA to spot toxic threats faster · ABC News
- Summary: Senator Tammy Duckworth introduces legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to assess combat zone hazards within 180 days and expand toxic…
- Keywords: tammy duckworth, department of veterans affairs, toxic exposure, combat zones, veterans healthcare, disability benefits, iran, pact act, ABC News
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/Politics/sen-duckworth-va-identify-toxic-threats-veterans-sick/story?id=137920895
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tammy duckworth, department of veterans affairs, toxic exposure, combat zones, veterans healthcare, disability benefits, iran, pact act, news
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Senator Duckworth proposes requiring the VA to assess toxic hazards in new combat zones within 180 days and expand healthcare and disability benefits for affected veterans.