“House lawmakers on Tuesday advanced legislation to improve tracking of troops’ exposure to toxic chemicals from war zone burn pits, but the real political fight over how to help those ailing veterans is set for later this spring.
“A group of lawmakers led by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) is planning a push to classify combat burn pit exposure as the presumed cause of a range of lung diseases for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, opening the door for easier access to medical care and disability benefits.
“The proposal is likely to face fierce opposition from VA leadership, which has emphasized the need for clear scientific links between war zone exposures and illnesses later in life before making large-scale benefits decisions.”
Read more at www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/03/06/battle-over-burn-pit-benefits-coming-to-congress-soon/.