,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gfhg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bj1 #bjbj ,mr4 ,kildee 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 and ,ms4 ,slotkin7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 and ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to protect firefighters from exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 to establish a presumption of service connection for certain veterans exposed to such substances1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,firefighters from ,,pfas ,act4 #b4 ,,pfas at fire training facilities ,section #bjc7;e77#a77;,b7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eacc7;e77#a77;,b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7iii71 by striking or2 7#b7 in clause 7iv71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7v7 to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances at fire training facilities4 4 #c4 ,guaranteeing equipment safety for firefighters 7a7 ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in personal protective equipment worn by firefighters 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health1 commence a study of the contents and composition of new and unused personal protective equipment worn by firefighters4 7#b7 ,contents of study ,in carrying out the study required by paragraph 7#a71 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall examine-- 7,a7 the identity1 prevalence1 and concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7commonly known as ,,pfas7 in the personal protective equipment worn by firefighters2 7,b7 the conditions and extent to which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are released into the environment over time from the degradation of personal protective equipment from normal use by firefighters2 and 7,c7 the relative risk of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances faced by firefighters from-- 7i7 their use of personal protective equipment2 and 7ii7 degradation of personal protective equipment from normal use by firefighters4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall submit to ,congress a report describing-- 7,a7 the findings of the ,director with respect to the study carried out under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 recommendations on what additional research or technical improvements to personal protective equipment materials or components should be pursued to avoid unnecessary occupational exposure among firefighters to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances through personal protective equipment4 7b7 ,research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in personal protective equipment worn by firefighters 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #edj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall-- 7,a7 issue a solicitation for research proposals to carry out the research recommendations identified in the report submitted under subsection 7a77#c72 and 7,b7 award grants to applicants that submit research proposals to develop safe alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in personal protective equipment4 7#b7 ,criteria ,the ,director shall select research proposals to receive a grant under paragraph 7#a7 on the basis of merit1 using criteria identified by the ,director1 including the likelihood that the research results will address the findings of the ,director with respect to the study conducted under subsection 7a77#a74 7#c7 ,eligible entities ,any entity or group of two or more entities may submit to the ,director a research proposal in response to the solicitation for research proposals under paragraph 7#a71 including-- 7,a7 ,state and local agencies2 7,b7 public institutions1 including public institutions of higher education2 7,c7 private corporations2 and 7,d7 nonprofit organizations4 7#d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,director to carry out this subsection up to #e1jjj1jjj for each of the #c fiscal years beginning with the first full fiscal year following the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,authority for ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology to consult with experts on matters relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ,in carrying out this section1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology may consult with ,federal agencies1 nongovernmental organizations1 ,state and local governments1 and science and research institutions determined by the ,director to have scientific or material interest in reducing unnecessary occupational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances by firefighters4 #d4 ,hospital care and medical services for veterans and dependents exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7a7 ,hospital care and medical services for veterans 7#a7 ,in general ,paragraph 7#a7 of section #agaj7;e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,g7 7i7 ,beginning on the date that is #ij days after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph1 subject to paragraph 7#b71 a veteran who served on active duty in the ,armed ,forces at a covered military installation at which individuals were exposed to substances specified in clause 7ii7 is eligible for hospital care and medical services under subsection 7a77#b77;,f7 for the diseases1 illnesses1 or conditions as specified in such clause1 notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illness or condition is attributable to such service4 7ii7 ,the substances and diseases1 illnesses1 or conditions specified in this clause are the following3 7,i7 ,with respect to exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid-- 7aa7 diagnosed high cholesterol2 7bb7 ulcerative colitis2 7cc7 thyroid disease2 7dd7 testicular cancer2 7ee7 kidney cancer2 and 7ff7 pregnancy-induced hypertension4 7,,ii7 ,with respect to exposure to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 any disease1 illness1 or condition that the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,agency for ,toxic ,substances and ,disease ,registry of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 determines pursuant to the study conducted under section #caf of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ia7 that a positive association exists between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and such disease1 illness1 or condition4 7iii7 ,for purposes of this subparagraph-- 7,i7 any service by a veteran as a member of the reserve components for a period specified by the ,secretary at a covered military installation at which individuals were exposed1 or suspected to be exposed1 to substances specified in clause 7ii7 shall be treated as active duty service1 notwithstanding section #aja7ba7 of this title2 and 7,,ii7 any service by a veteran as a civilian firefighter for a period specified by the ,secretary at a covered military installation at which individuals were exposed1 or suspected to be exposed1 to substances specified in clause 7ii7 shall be treated as active duty service at such installation1 regardless of whether such service occurs after the date on which the veteran was discharged or released from the ,armed ,forces1 notwithstanding section #aja7ba7 of this title4 7iv7 ,in this subparagraph1 the term covered military installation means a military installation at which individuals were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 including exposure through a well that provides water for human consumption that is contaminated with such substances4 4 7#b7 ,limitation ,paragraph 7#b77;,b7 of such section is amended by striking or 7,f7 and inserting 7,f71 or 7,g74 7b7 ,civilian firefighters and family members of veterans 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,viii of chapter #ag is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #aghg;,a4 ,health care of civilian firefighters and family members of veterans stationed at certain military installations 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,beginning on the date that is #ij days after the date of the enactment of this section1 subject to subsection 7b71 an individual described in paragraph 7#b7 shall be eligible for hospital care and medical services furnished by the ,secretary for any disease1 illness1 or condition for which a veteran may receive hospital care and medical services under section #agaj7;e77#a77;,g77ii7 of this title1 notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disease1 illness1 or condition is proximately caused1 as the case may be1 by-- 7,a7 the location of the residence as specified in paragraph 7#b77;,a72 or 7,b7 the nature of the service as a firefighter as specified in paragraph 7#b77;,b74 7#b7 ,an individual described in this paragraph is any of the following3 7,a7 ,a family member of a veteran described in clause 7i7 of section #agaj7;e77#a77;,g7 of this title 7or who would be so described but for the condition by which the individual was discharged or released from the ,armed ,forces7 who resided at a military installation covered by such clause or who was in utero while the mother of such family member resided at such location4 7,b7 ,an employee of the ,federal ,government who-- 7i7 served as a civilian firefighter at such a military installation2 and 7ii7 is not covered by such section #agaj7;e77#a77;,g74 7b7 ,limitations 7#a7 ,the ,secretary may only furnish hospital care and medical services under subsection 7a7 to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations ,acts for such purpose4 7#b7 ,hospital care and medical services may not be furnished under subsection 7a7 for a disease1 illness1 or condition of an individual that is found1 in accordance with guidelines issued by the ,under ,secretary for ,health1 to have resulted from a cause other than the residence or employment of the individual as specified in that subsection4 7#c7 ,the ,secretary may provide reimbursement for hospital care or medical services provided to an individual under this section only after the individual or the provider of such care or services has exhausted without success all claims and remedies reasonably available to the individual or provider against a third party 7as defined in section #agbe7;f7 of this title7 for payment of such care or services1 including with respect to health-plan contracts 7as defined in such section74 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aghg the following new item3 #aghg;,a4 ,health care of civilian firefighters and family members of veterans stationed at certain military installations4 4 7c7 ,annual reports 7#a7 ,in general ,during the three-year period beginning in the year in which the study conducted under section #caf of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ia7 is submitted to ,congress1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives an annual report on the care and services provided under sections #agaj7;e77#a77;,g7 and #aghg;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code 7as added by subsections 7a7 and 7b77#a71 respectively74 7#b7 ,elements ,each report under paragraph 7#a7 shall set forth the following3 7,a7 ,the number of veterans1 civilian firefighters1 and family members provided hospital care and medical services under the provisions of law specified in paragraph 7#a7 during the period covered by the report4 7,b7 ,the illnesses1 conditions1 and disabilities for which care and services have been provided such veterans1 civilian firefighters1 and family members under such provisions of law during that period4 7,c7 ,the number of veterans1 civilian firefighters1 and family members who applied for care and services under such provisions of law during that period but were denied1 including information on the reasons for such denials4 7,d7 ,the number of veterans1 civilian firefighters1 and family members who applied for care and services under such provisions of law and are awaiting a decision from the ,secretary on eligibility for such care and services as of the date of such report4 7#c7 ,veteran defined ,in this subsection1 the term veteran includes a former member of the reserve components of the ,armed ,forces covered by such section #agaj7;e77#a77;,g74 #e4 ,presumption of service connection for certain veterans exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #aa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #aaaf the following new section3 #aaaf;,a4 ,presumption of service connection for certain veterans exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 7a7 ,presumption of service connection 7#a7 ,for the purposes of section #aaaj of this title1 and subject to section #aaac of this title1 each disease or illness specified in subsection 7b7 that becomes manifest in a veteran described in paragraph 7#b7 shall be considered to have been incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military1 naval1 or air service1 notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease or illness during the period of such service4 7#b7 ,a veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who1 during active military1 naval1 or air service1 served at a military installation at which individuals were exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 including exposure through a well that provides water for human consumption that is contaminated with such substances4 7b7 ,diseases or illnesses ,a disease or illness specified in this subsection is any of the following3 7#a7 ,with respect to exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid-- 7,a7 diagnosed high cholesterol2 7,b7 ulcerative colitis2 7,c7 thyroid disease2 7,d7 testicular cancer2 7,e7 kidney cancer2 and 7,f7 pregnancy-induced hypertension4 7#b7 ,with respect to exposure to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances1 any other disease1 illness1 or condition that the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 in consultation with the ,administrator of the ,agency for ,toxic ,substances and ,disease ,registry of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 determines pursuant to the study conducted under section #caf of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-ia7 that a positive association exists between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and such disease or illness4 7c7 ,active military1 naval1 or air service ,for purposes of this section1 any service by a member of the reserve components for a period specified by the ,secretary at a military installation described in subsection 7a77#b7 shall be treated as active military1 naval1 or air service1 notwithstanding section #aja7bd7 of this title4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aaaf the following new item3 #aaaf;,a4 ,presumption of service connection for certain veterans exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances4 4