Consider this a call to action. There is a burn pit bill at the House of Representatives that needs your support. Contact your local representative and express your support for H.R. 2237, the “Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act.” Also, sign the petition to the United States House of Representatives (available through the embedded hyperlink). Congresswoman Elizabeth Etsy introduced the bill for herself and for Congressman Jim McDermott. Additional congressional supporters are starting to emerge. As of now, the Library of Congress’s THOMAS website shows that “Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act” is sponsored by Representatives Etsy and cosponsored by Representatives McDermott, Cheri Bustos, Mike Coffman, Henry Cuellar, Walter Jones, Jr., Peter King, and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen. What Does the Act Do? The Burn Pit Act (in short) promotes and finances research that will evaluate the negative long term health effects of burn pits in Afghanistan andRead more
New Burn Pit Legislation Proposed
There is a new burn pit bill at the House of Representatives called the “Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act.” Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty introduced the bill for herself and for Congressman Jim McDermott. Congresswoman Esty’s press release details some of the concerns that led to her introduction of the bill: Military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are exposed to a variety of potentially harmful substances including the smoke produced from the burning of waste on military bases. Items such as plastics, aerosol cans, electronic equipment, human waste, metal containers, tires, and batteries are thrown into open pits, sometimes doused with jet fuel, and set ablaze. Smoke from these open-air burn pits can waft throughout the entire base and even into living areas. Health effects from exposure to chemicals found in burn pits can include cancer, neurological and reproductive effects, respiratory toxicity, and cardiovascular toxicity. Compelling concerns, right? Near-termRead more
