,i #aae? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fehb ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,july #bf1 #bjah,mr4 ,bilirakis 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,ruiz1 ,mr4 ,wel*1 & ,mr4 ,"y ( ,i[a7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to am5d title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to e/abli% presumptions ( s]vice connection = illnesses associat$ ) op5 burn pits1 to direct ! ,comptroll] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to e/abli% ! ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,advisory ,commission1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,protection = ,vet]ans' ,burn ,pit ,exposure ,act ( #bjah4 #b4 ,presumptions ( s]vice connection = illnesses associat$ ) op5 burn pits 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,sub*apt] ,,ii ( *apt] #aa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ aft] section #aaah ! foll[+ new section3 #aaai4 ,presumptions ( s]vice connection = illnesses associat$ ) exposure to op5 burn pits 7a7 ,e/abli%m5t 7#a7 ,= purposes ( section #aaaj ( ?is title1 & subject to section #aaac ( ?is title1 ea* illness describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 becom+ manife/ 9 a cov]$ vet]an %all be consid]$ to h be5 incurr$ 9 or aggravat$ by cov]$ s]vice1 not)/&+ t !re is no record ( evid5ce ( su* illness 9 ! cov]$ vet]an dur+ ! p]iod ( cov]$ s]vice4 7#b7 ,an illness describ$ 9 ?is p>agraph is any diagnos$ or undiagnos$ illness t-- 7,a7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es 9 regulations prescrib$ "u ?is section to w>rant a presumption ( s]vice connection by reason ( hav+ a positive association ) exposure to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits2 & 7,b7 becomes manife/ )9 ! p]iod1 if any1 prescrib$ 9 su* regulations 9 a cov]$ vet]an4 7#c7 ,= purposes ( ?is subsection1 a cov]$ vet]an :o has an illness describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 %all be presum$ to h be5 expos$ to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits unless !re is conclusive evid5ce to e/abli% t ! cov]$ vet]an 0 n expos$ to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits 9 ! c\rse ( cov]$ s]vice4 7b7 ,det]m9ations 7#a7 ,! ,secret>y %all det]m9e :e!r a positive association exi/s betwe5-- 7,a7 ! exposure ( humans or animals to a burn pit2 & 7,b7 ! occurr5ce ( a diagnos$ or undiagnos$ illness 9 humans or animals4 7#b7 ,9 mak+ det]m9ations "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all take into acc\nt any report f ! ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,advisory ,commission4 7#c7 ,9 evaluat+ a report = ! purpose ( mak+ a det]m9ation "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all take into consid]ation :e!r ! results-- 7,a7 are /ati/ically significant2 7,b7 are capable ( replication2 & 7,c7 )/& pe] review4 7#d7 ,an association betwe5 ! occurr5ce ( an illness 9 humans or animals & exposure to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits %all be consid]$ to be positive = purposes ( ?is subsection if ! cr$ible evid5ce = ! association is equal to or outweighs ! cr$ible evid5ce aga9/ ! association4 7#e7 ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] receiv+ a report f ! ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,advisory ,commission reg>d+ an illness1 ! ,secret>y %all make a det]m9ation "u ?is subsection reg>d+ t illness4 7c7 ,regulations 7#a7 ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es "u subsection 7b7 t a presumption ( s]vice connection is w>rant$ = an illness1 ! ,secret>y %all issue propos$ regulations sett+ =? ! det]m9ation n lat] ?an #fj days aft] mak+ ! det]m9ation4 7#b7 7,a7 ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es "u subsection 7b7 t a presumption ( s]vice connection is n w>rant$ = an illness describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#b71 ! ,secret>y %all publi% 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] a notice ( t det]m9ation n lat] ?an #fj days aft] mak+ ! det]m9ation4 ,! notice %all include an explanation ( ! evid5ce & sci5tific basis = t det]m9ation4 7,b7 ,if an illness already presum$ to be s]vice connect$ "u ?is section is subject to a det]m9ation "u subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,secret>y %all issue propos$ regulations remov+ ! presumption = ! illness n lat] ?an #fj days aft] publication ( ! notice ( a det]m9ation t ! presumption is n w>rant$4 ,! notice %all include an explanation ( ! evid5ce & sci5tific basis = t det]m9ation4 7#c7 ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y issues any propos$ regulations "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all issue f9al regulations4 ,su* regulations %all be effective on ! date ( issuance4 7#d7 ,:5ev] ! presumption ( s]vice connection = an illness "u ?is section is remov$ "u ?is subsection-- 7,a7 a vet]an :o 0 aw>d$ comp5sation = ! illness on ! basis ( ! presumption be=e ! effective date ( ! removal ( ! presumption %all cont9ue to be entitl$ to receive comp5sation on t basis2 & 7,b7 a survivor ( a vet]an :o 0 aw>d$ dep5d5cy & indemnity comp5sation = ! dea? ( a vet]an result+ f ! illness on ! basis ( ! presumption be=e t date %all cont9ue to be entitl$ to receive dep5d5cy & indemnity comp5sation on t basis4 7d7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$ vet]an means a vet]an :o1 on or aft] ,septemb] #aa1 #bjja-- 7,a7 0 deploy$ 9 support ( a cont+5cy op]ation :ile s]v+ 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces2 & 7,b7 dur+ su* deploym5t1 0 bas$ or /ation$ at a location :]e an op5 burn pit 0 us$4 7#b7 ,! t]m op5 burn pit means an area ( l& t-- 7,a7 is designat$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,def5se to be us$ = dispos+ ( solid wa/e by burn+ 9 ! outdoor air2 & 7,b7 does n conta9 a comm]cially manufactur$ inc9]ator or o!r equipm5t specifically design$ & manufactur$ = ! burn+ ( solid wa/e4 4 7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to item #aaah ! foll[+ new item3 #aaai4 ,presumptions ( s]vice connection = illnesses associat$ ) exposure to op5 burn pits4 4 #c4 ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,advisory ,commission 7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all e/abli% a commission to be kn[n z ! ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,advisory ,commission 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,commission74 7b7 ,duties ( ,commission ,! ,commission %all make recomm5dations to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs reg>d+ :at illnesses h positive associations ) exposure to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits4 ,9 mak+ su* recomm5dations1 ! ,commission %all consid] ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,:e!r ea* illness specifi$ 9 section #aaab ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 has a positive association ) exposure to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits4 7#b7 ,! lett] issu$ by ! ,director ( ! ,comp5sation & ,p5sion ,s]vice ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 dat$ ,april #bf1 #bjaj1 titl$ ,tra9+ ,lett] #aj-jc ,environm5tal ,haz>ds 9 ,iraq1 ,afghani/an1 & ,o!r ,milit>y ,in/allations4 7#c7 ,! report issu$ by ! ,national ,academies ( ,sci5ces1 ,eng9e]+1 & ,m$ic9e on ,octob] #ca1 #bjaa1 titl$ ,long-,t]m ,heal? ,consequ5ces ( ,exposure to ,burn ,pits 9 ,iraq & ,afghani/an4 7#d7 ,! report issu$ by ! ,national ,academies ( ,sci5ces1 ,eng9e]+1 & ,m$ic9e on ,febru>y #bh1 #bjag1 titl$ ,assessm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,airborne ,haz>ds & ,op5 ,burn ,pit ,regi/ry4 7#e7 ,in=mation submitt$ by a vet]ans s]vice organization4 7#f7 ,s\nd m$ical & sci5tific in=mation1 reports1 or analyses available to ! ,commission t-- 7,a7 are /ati/ically significant2 7,b7 are capable ( replication2 & 7,c7 )/& pe] review4 7c7 ,memb]%ip 7#a7 ,numb] & appo9tm5t ,! ,commission %all be compos$ ( #ae memb]s appo9t$ by ! ,comptroll] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 7#b7 ,qualifications 7,a7 ,rese>* ,! ,comptroll] %all select memb]s f ! m$ical community :o h di/+ui%$ backgr\nds 9 biom$ical1 sci5tific1 or epidemiological rese>*4 7,b7 ,exp]i5ce ) vet]ans or memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces ,a majority ( ! memb]s %all be vet]ans1 memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 or h exp]i5ce provid+ heal? c>e to vet]ans or memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces4 7,c7 ,prohibition on eligibility = b5efits relat$ to exposure to op5 burn pits ,no memb] may be eligible = any b5efit "u section #aaaj ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 pursuant to regulations prescrib$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs "u section #aaai ( su* title4 7#c7 ,t]ms 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* memb] %all be appo9t$ = r5ewable ?ree-ye> t]ms4 7,b7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy 9 ! ,commission %all be fill$ 9 ! mann] 9 :i* ! orig9al appo9tm5t 0 made4 ,any memb] appo9t$ to fill a vacancy occurr+ be=e ! expiration ( ! t]m = :i* ! memb]'s pr$ecessor 0 appo9t$ %all be appo9t$ only = ! rema9d] ( t t]m4 ,a memb] may s]ve aft] ! expiration ( t memb]'s t]m until a successor has tak5 (fice4 7#d7 ,basic pay 7,a7 ,rates ( pay ,memb]s %all be paid at a rate equal to level ,,iv ( ! ,executive ,s*$ule "u section #ecae ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 7,b7 ,prohibition ( comp5sation ( ,f$]al employees ,no memb] ( ! ,commission :o is a full-"t (fic] or employee ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates may receive additional pay1 all[ances1 or b5efits by reason ( s]vice on ! ,commission4 7#e7 ,travel exp5ses ,ea* memb] %all receive travel exp5ses1 includ+ p] diem 9 lieu ( subsi/5ce1 9 accordance ) applicable provisions "u sub*apt] #a ( *apt] #eg ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 7#f7 ,quorum ,a majority ( memb]s ( ! ,commission %all con/itute a quorum b a less] numb] may hold he>+s4 7#g7 ,*airp]son ,! ,comptroll] %all designate a memb] ( ! ,commission z ! ,*airp]son ( ! ,commission at ! "t ( appo9tm5t1 = ! initial t]m ( t memb]4 7#h7 ,meet+s ,! ,commission %all meet at ! call ( ! ,*airp]son4 7d7 ,p[]s ( ,commission 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to su* review z ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al deems necess>y to assure ! effici5t adm9i/ration ( ! ,commission1 ! ,commission may-- 7,a7 employ & fix ! comp5sation ( an ,executive ,director 7subject to ! approval ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al7 & su* o!r p]sonnel z may be necess>y to c>ry out its duties2 7,b7 seek su* assi/ance & support z may be requir$ 9 ! p]=mance ( its duties f appropriate ,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies2 7,c7 ent] into contracts or make o!r arrangem5ts1 z may be necess>y = ! conduct ( ! "w ( ! ,commission2 7,d7 make advance1 progress1 & o!r paym5ts t relate to ! "w ( ! ,commission2 7,e7 provide transportation & subsi/5ce to p]sons s]v+ ! ,commission )\t comp5sation2 & 7,f7 prescribe su* rules & regulations z x det]m9es necess>y ) respect to ! int]nal organization & op]ation ( ! ,commission4 7#b7 ,he>+s & sessions ,! ,commission may adm9i/] oa?s or affirmations to witnesses appe>+ be=e x4 ,any su* he>+ %all be op5 to ! public4 7#c7 ,p[]s ( ,memb]s & ag5ts 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,any memb] or ag5t ( ! ,commission may1 if au?oriz$ by ! ,commission1 take any action :i* ! ,commission is au?oriz$ to take by ?is section4 7,b7 ,obta9+ (ficial data 7i7 ,! ,commission may secure directly f any dep>tm5t or ag5cy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates in=mation necess>y to enable x to c>ry out ?is section4 ,^u reque/ ( ! ,*airp]son ( ! ,commission1 ! head ( t dep>tm5t or ag5cy %all furni% t in=mation to ! ,commission4 7ii7 ,9 ord] to c>ry out its functions1 ! ,commission %all-- 7,i7 utilize exi/+ in=mation1 bo? publi%$ & unpubli%$1 :5 possible1 collect$ & assess$ ei!r by its own /aff or "u o!r arrangem5ts2 7,,ii7 c>ry out1 or aw>d grants or contracts =1 orig9al rese>* & exp]im5tation1 :5 exi/+ in=mation is inadequate2 & 7,,iii7 adopt proc$ures all[+ any int]e/$ p>ty to submit in=mation = ! ,commission's use 9 mak+ reports & recomm5dations4 7,c7 ,direction to ! ,national ,academy ( ,m$ic9e ,! ,commission may direct ! ,presid5t ( ! ,national ,academy ( ,m$ic9e to conduct /udies ( illnesses describ$ 9 subsection 7b74 7,d7 ,exp5ditures ,! ,commission may make su* exp5ditures = s]vices & mat]ials = ! purpose ( c>ry+ out ?is section z ! ,commission consid]s advisable f funds appropriat$ = t purpose4 7e7 ,ov]sight 7#a7 ,access to records ,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al %all h unre/rict$ access to all delib]ations1 records1 & data ( ! ,commission1 imm$iately ^u reque/4 7#b7 ,audit ,! ,commission %all be subject to p]iodic audit by ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,reports on recomm5dations ,! ,commission %all submit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & to ,congress a report reg>d+ ea* recomm5dation "u subsection 7b7 n lat] ?an #ij days aft] mak+ su* recomm5dation4 ,9 any su* report t includes a recomm5dation t ! ,secret>y det]m9e t an illness does n h positive association ) exposure to toxic airborne *emicals & fumes caus$ by op5 burn pits1 ! ,commission %all include an explanation ( ! evid5ce & sci5tific basis = su* recomm5dation4 7#b7 ,annual report ,! ,commission %all submit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & to ,congress a report n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act & annually !reaft]4 ,ea* annual report %all include ! foll[+ ) reg>ds to ! prec$+ ye>3 7,a7 ,recomm5dations made by ! ,commission "u subsection 7b74 7,b7 ,a review ( in=mation describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#f7 ( subsection 7b7 t ! ,commission has review$ relat+ to illnesses = :i* ! ,commission has n yet made a recomm5dation "u t subsection4 7#c7 ,qu9qu5nial report ,! ,commission %all submit to ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & to ,congress a report dur+ ! fif? ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act & e five ye>s !reaft]4 ,ea* su* report %all include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a summ>y ( ! in=mation specifi$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b7 ( p>agraph 7#b7 ) reg>ds to ! prec$+ five ye>s4 7,b7 ,an e/imate ( :5 ! ,commission w make a recomm5dation reg>d+ ea* illness describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 ( p>agraph 7#b74