Bilirakis, Ruiz, Tenney, Welch and Crapo Lead Bill to Better Protect Servicemembers from Burn Pits and Improve Care for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-35) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), along with Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), introduced the Waste Incineration Protection, Exposure Oversight, and Updated Tracking of (WIPE OUT) Burn Pits Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would build on the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act by ensuring all instances of toxic exposure from burn pits are accounted for and recorded in each servicemember's health records. The legislation would also establish a clear framework for identifying, tracking, and mitigating risks of open-air burn pits located near U.S. forces and push for replacement with safer alternatives.

"Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to defend our nation, and they should never have to face lifelong health consequences because of the toxic exposure they endured while serving. The WIPE Out Burn Pits Act is an important step toward protecting our military personnel, addressing the dangers of burn pit exposure, and ensuring those who serve our country have the support and protections they deserve. We have a responsibility to safeguard the health of our heroes, and I will continue fighting to make that a priority," said Rep. Bilirakis.

"I'm proud to lead the bipartisan, bicameral WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act to protect servicemembers from the harmful effects of toxic burn pits." said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz. "This bill requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to find, record, and test the air at every burn pit site used by other countries or contractors that are endangering the lives of our troops. The PACT Act gave presumptive benefits and health care to veterans harmed by burn pit exposure. The WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act aims to end the use of toxic burn pits once and for all."

"Our servicemembers should not have to worry that the air they breathe while defending our country could jeopardize their health for years to come," said Rep. Tenney. "We have seen the devastating consequences of toxic exposure on our veterans and their families, and we must do everything possible to prevent future generations from facing the same challenges. The bipartisan WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act will help identify dangerous exposure risks, improve accountability, and ensure our troops have accurate health records if they need care in the future. Protecting those who serve our nation must remain a top priority, both during their service and long after they return home."

"When we passed the PACT Act four years ago, we took a major step toward ensuring that the cost of war always includes the cost of caring for the warrior. But there's always more we can do to improve servicemember safety, including finding better ways to track and mitigate the risks of burn pits," said Senator Welch. "I'm proud to partner with Senator Crapo on this bill which builds on our bipartisan work to expand benefits and open doors to care for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals."

"While the Pentagon has largely phased out the use of burn pits, many foreign partners and entities continue to operate them near installations where U.S. personnel live and work,"said Senator Crapo. "We must take proactive steps to reduce the risk of toxic exposure by providing safer waste disposal alternatives, working with foreign partners to eliminate hazardous burn pits and ensuring servicemembers' health records accurately document potential exposure so veterans can access appropriate benefits and care in the future."

For decades, the Department of Defense (DoD) relied on open-air burn pits to dispose of waste during overseas contingency operations, exposing U.S. servicemembers to toxins linked to long-term health conditions, including respiratory disease, cancer, and heart issues. The PACT Act, signed into law in 2022,
took historic steps to expand care and benefits for Veterans suffering from toxic exposure. To date, more than 7 million Veterans have been screened for toxic exposures because of the PACT Act.

While DoD has reduced its own use of burn pits, servicemembers are still exposed to active burn pits not controlled by DoD, and safer alternatives exist for instances when DoD does operate burn pits. Specifically, the WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act:

• Establishes a clear framework for identifying, tracking, and mitigating the risks of non-DoD open-air burn pits located near U.S. forces, and ensure that exposure to toxic substances is incorporated into servicemembers' health records;
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress detailing the location and use of all nearby burn pits, including those operated by allies, partners, or local entities;
• Requires the deployment of alternative solid waste disposal systems in locations where the DoD operates burn pits; and
• Mandates diplomatic engagement, jointly by the Secretaries of Defense and State, with host nations to create a wind down plan the use of burn pits in areas where U.S. personnel could be exposed.

Provisions of the lawmakers' legislation were included in the Senate's Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to:

• Prioritize the deployment of alternative solid waste disposal systems to contingency locations where DoD identifies that open-air burn pits remain in use;
• Update DoD policy to ensure that non-DoD controlled burn pits are recorded in impacted servicemembers' health records.

The House's FY27 NDAA report also included provisions from the WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act that would:

• Require DoD to brief Members of Congress on servicemember exposure to non-DoD controlled burn pits; and
• Study DoD's current use of alternative waste disposal methods and what is further needed to finally eliminate the DoD's reliance on burn pits.

The WIPE OUT Burns Pit Act is endorsed by Burn Pits 360, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), FealGood Foundation, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

Representative Bilirakis's talented team of caseworkers can help Veterans, families, and survivors with casework related to the VA, as well as other federal agencies. Tampa Bay Veterans and servicemembers seeking assistance are encouraged to visit call his office: 727-232-2921.

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