Bipartisan Bill Would Extend Burn Pit Presumptive Benefits to Federal Civilians
Lawmakers unveiled the Kenya Merritt Renewing Our Promise to Address Toxicity Act on Thursday to extend burn pit-related benefits to federal civilians including law enforcement. The measure would create a presumption of work-related illness for those exposed overseas, matching protections already in place for military members since 2022.
theyeshivaworld.comU.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.
The legislation 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.
Civilians who have sometimes also served alongside military members in places like Iraq and Afghanistan were not covered by that law.
U.S. Department of Labor for workers' compensation. 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.
It would also align civilian protections with the Department of Veterans Affairs legal framework for service members exposed to burn pits. According to the Department of Labor investigators, every single civilian federal burn pit-related claim has been denied.
Nellie Pou of New Jersey. "That's an outrage. " Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou of New Jersey is introducing the bill along with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Celeste Maloy of Utah.
