Bipartisan Bill Would Create Presumptive Burn Pit Benefits for Civilian Federal Workers

U.S. lawmakers unveiled a draft bill on Thursday to help civilians, including law enforcement agents, receive workers' compensation for illnesses like cancer that are often associated with toxic exposure to burn pits. The Kenya Merritt Renewing Our Promise to Address Toxicity Act is named for FBI Special Agent Kenya Merritt, who died from lung cancer after he was exposed to toxic burn pits during his service in Iraq.

If enacted, the bill would put civilian employees on the same legal footing as military service members and make it easier for them to receive benefits. A law passed in 2022 made it easier for military members who were exposed to burn pits during their tours of duty to get approved for compensation.

But civilians who have sometimes also served alongside military members in places like Iraq and Afghanistan were not covered by that legislation.

U.S. Department of Labor for workers' compensation. Democratic Rep.

Nellie Pou of New Jersey said that according to Department of Labor investigators, every single civilian federal burn pit-related claim has been denied. "That's an outrage. And it cannot stand," Pou added.

If enacted into law, the bill would create a presumption that certain illnesses are work-related for eligible federal employees exposed to burn pits during overseas operations. The legislation would also align civilian protections with the Department of Veterans Affairs legal framework for service members exposed to burn pits. Democratic Sen.

Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is introducing the bill along with Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Celeste Maloy of Utah. The bill was unveiled at Capitol Hill by lawmakers and the FBI Agents Association, which is championing the measure, as the country celebrates Police Week.

Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, told reporters Thursday that the bureau supports the bill as well. Bara added that there have been thousands of agents who have gone overseas and have been exposed to burn pits throughout the past two decades. @CBSNews reported the full details of the draft legislation and the reactions from its sponsors.

The measure seeks to address a gap left after the 2022 law expanded presumptive benefits for veterans but left civilian federal workers without equivalent presumptions when filing claims. Pou, Gillibrand, Fitzpatrick and Maloy presented the text alongside the FBI Agents Association to draw attention to the denials that have left affected civilians without recourse.