Bill Text: NJ AR151 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass legislation requiring VA to provide care to veterans exposed to burn pits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-06-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR151 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-AR151-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WILLIAM F. MOEN, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass legislation requiring VA to provide care to veterans exposed to burn pits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to pass legislation requiring the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care to veterans exposed to burn pits.
Whereas, In recent military conflicts, the military utilized open-air burn pits to burn garbage, including chemicals, paint, human waste, medical waste, food waste, metal and aluminum cans, munitions and unexploded ordnance, petroleum and lubricant products, plastics, rubber, and wood; and
Whereas, At least 230 burn pits were used in Iraq and Afghanistan, with others across the globe, the largest at Balad Air Base in Iraq, a burn pit that stretched 10 acres; and
Whereas, Approximately 3.5 million service members have been exposed to toxins connected to burn pits; and
Whereas, The airborne toxic substances that were released by burn pits have proved to be very dangerous, causing countless illnesses in veterans years later; and
Whereas, The passage of legislation requiring the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide care to veterans exposed to burn pits is urgent, as many sick veterans fight daily to have their illnesses addressed by the VA while they continue to become sicker; and
Whereas, Veterans have fought and risked their lives to protect Americans and it is appropriate that America protects veterans by giving them the care that they deserve; and
Whereas, New Jersey is grateful for the sacrifices that members of the military have made in service to this nation, and recognizes that they have sacrificed their health in service and deserve to be taken care of during and after their service; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges Congress to pass legislation requiring the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care to veterans exposed to burn pits.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Congress
to pass legislation requiring the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide care to veterans exposed
to burn pits.
In recent military conflicts, the military utilized open-air burn pits to burn garbage, including chemicals, paint, human waste, medical waste, munitions and unexploded ordnance, plastics, and wood.
Approximately 3.5 million service members have been exposed to toxins connected to burn pits. The airborne toxic substances that were released by burn pits have proved to be very dangerous, causing countless illnesses in veterans years later. Many sick veterans fight daily to have their illnesses addressed by the VA while they continue to become sicker.
Veterans have fought and risked their lives to protect Americans and it is appropriate that America protects veterans by giving them the care that they deserve. New Jersey is grateful for the sacrifices that members of the military have made in service to this nation, and recognizes that they have sacrificed their health in service and deserve to be taken care of during and after their service.
