Welch, Crapo, Ruiz, Bilirakis, Tenney Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Better Protect Servicemembers from Burn Pits, Improve Care for Veterans

About About Peter Committee Assignments My Work (so far) Combating Trump’s Illegal Agenda Issues News Press Releases Press Kit Services Newsletter Sign-Up Help with a Federal Agency Academy Nominations Congressionally Directed Spending Requests Flag Requests Flooding Resources Internships Resources Resources for Immigrants Scheduling Requests Visiting DC Women’s Economic Opportunity Conference Contact Email Peter Press Release Welch, Crapo, Ruiz, Bilirakis, Tenney Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Better Protect Servicemembers from Burn Pits, Improve Care for Veterans Nov 10, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), along with U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-35) , Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) , and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) , introduced the Waste Incineration Protection, Exposure Oversight, and Updated Tracking of (WIPE OUT) Burn Pits Act . This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would build on the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act by ensuring all instances of toxic exposure from burn pits are accounted for. The legislation would also establish a clear framework for identifying, tracking, and mitigating risks of open‑air burn pits located near U.S. forces and push for replacement with safer alternatives. The PACT Act , which Senator Welch championed as a member of the House of Representatives, was signed into law by President Biden in 2022, To date, more than 7 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposures because of the PACT Act . “When we passed the PACT Act four years ago, we took a major step toward ensuring that the cost of war always includes the cost of caring for the warrior. But there’s always more we can do to improve servicemember safety, including finding better ways to track and mitigate the risks of burn pits,” said Senator Welch . “I’m proud to partner with Senator Crapo on this bill which builds on our bipartisan work to expand benefits and open doors to care for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.” “While the Pentagon has largely phased out the use of burn pits, many foreign partners and entities continue to operate them near installations where U.S. personnel live and work,” said Senator Crapo . “We must take proactive steps to reduce the risk of toxic exposure by providing safer waste disposal alternatives, working with foreign partners to eliminate hazardous burn pits and ensuring servicemembers’ health records accurately document potential exposure so veterans can access appropriate benefits and care in the future.” “I’m proud to lead the bipartisan, bicameral WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act to protect servicemembers from the harmful effects of toxic burn pits.” said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz . “This bill requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to find, record, and test the air at every burn pit site used by other countries or contractors that are endangering the lives of our troops. The PACT Act gave presumptive benefits and health care to veterans harmed by burn pit exposure. The WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act aims to end the use of toxic burn pits once and for all.” “Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to defend our nation, and they should never have to face lifelong health consequences because of the toxic exposure they endured while serving. The WIPE Out Burn Pits Act is an important step toward protecting our military personnel, addressing the dangers of burn pit exposure, and ensuring those who serve our country have the support and protections they deserve. We have a responsibility to safeguard the health of our heroes, and I will continue fighting to make that a priority,” said Rep. Bilirakis . “Our servicemembers should not have to worry that the air they breathe while defending our country could jeopardize their health for years to come,” said Rep . Tenney . “We have seen the devastating consequences of toxic exposure on our veterans and their families, and we must do everything possible to prevent future generations from facing the same challenges. The bipartisan WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act will help identify dangerous exposure risks, improve accountability, and ensure our troops have accurate health records if they need care in the future. Protecting those who serve our nation must remain a top priority, both during their service and long after they return home.” For decades, the Department of Defense (DoD) relied on open-air burn pits to dispose of waste during overseas contingency operations, exposing U.S. servicemembers to toxins linked to long-term health conditions, including respiratory disease, cancer, and heart issues. The PACT Act took historic steps to expand care and benefits for veterans suffering from toxic exposure. The WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act builds on that progress by ensuring all instances of toxic exposure from burn pits are recorded in a servicemember’s health records. While DoD has reduced its own use of burn pits, servicemembers ar