ICYMI: The Bryan Times Highlights Brown’s Push to Pass Burn Pit Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In Case You Missed It: The Bryan Times highlighted U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) efforts to pass the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act that would help veterans who were exposed to toxic substances. A modified version of Heath's bill was included in the Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act of 2021. Before President Biden's first State of the Union Address last week, Brown welcomed Danielle Robinson, who is the widow of Heath Robinson, a central Ohio veteran who passed away in May 2020, and was exposed to burn pits while deployed. Robinson was invited to be the guest of Dr. Jill Biden at the State of the Union Address.

"During [a press conference call last week], Brown likened the burn pits to Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the military during the Vietnam War. Exposure to the chemical can cause at least 17 different illnesses and cancers, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website," wrote Lucas Bechtol for The Bryan Times. "Brown, working on the Senate's Committee on Veteran Affairs for 15 years, helped expand the list of known Agent Orange illnesses after Congress 'moved way too slow' on addressing the issue, he said."

Earlier in February, the Senate unanimously passed The Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, which will expand access to health care for toxic-exposed veterans, establish a new process through which VA will determine future presumptive conditions, and provide overdue benefits to thousands of toxic-exposed veterans who have been long-ignored or forgotten.

A one-pager on the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act can be found HERE.

Read the Bryan Times' full article HEREor an excerpt below.

Brown continues to push burn pit legislation

By: Lucas Bechtol

March 8, 2022

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is continuing to work on legislation to help veterans and hopes a mention of burn pits in the recent State of the Union Address will help Congress to do the right thing.

President Joe Biden said supporting veterans was one of four parts of his "Unity Agenda for the Nation" during his speech Tuesday night.

"Veterans are the best of us," he said during his speech. "I've always believed that we have a sacred obligation to equip all those we send to war and care for them and their families when they come home."

U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan could have been exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits. These pits, Biden said, incinerated "wastes of war" including medical and hazardous material and jet fuel, among others.

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Click here to read the full article.