The Senate National Defense Authorization Act – the legislation that provides authorization and guidelines for U.S. military spending – included a provision to provide the VA with new funding to address burn pits and other respiratory exposures experienced by veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The provision authorizes the VA to create “VA centers of excellence” to conduct basic and clinical research to understand and better treat the health effects caused by burn pits and other respiratory exposures while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ATS has worked closely with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) in the House to include this provision in the National Defense Authorization Act.  The provision has been included in the Senate version of the bill, but is not included in the House bill.  A conference committee with members from both chambers has been convened to resolve differences between the two versions of the bill.  The ATS has been in touch with key Congressional offices urging the conferees to include the burn pits provision in the final conference report