Brownley Introduces Legislation to Expand Health Care Access for Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) announced the reintroduction of the Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act, legislation to extend U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits to eligible military and veteran family members exposed to toxic substances. Specifically, the bill would provide VA health care to family members and other individuals who lived or worked at certain military facilities and have been diagnosed with a presumptive service-connected disability resulting from toxic exposure.

"The impacts of toxic exposure are far-reaching, and for too long, our nation's veterans have borne the long-term health consequences alone," said Congresswoman Brownley. "While veterans are entitled to VA health care benefits, their family members - who were often exposed to the same harmful substances while living on military installations - are left without access to care."

"The families who live on military sites alongside their loved ones face similar risks, yet their health needs have been overlooked for far too long," Brownley continued. "This legislation closes a longstanding gap by extending VA health care benefits to military family members who were exposed to toxic substances while residing on military facilities. Caring for military families is consistent with the VA's mission to care for those who have served, and for their families, caregivers, and survivors - and it is past time we ensure these families receive the health care they need."

Background

Currently, veterans are awarded health care benefits when they have a presumptive service-connected disability. Disabilities are deemed presumptively service-connected when a veteran has a specific enumerated disability and is presumed to have been exposed to a toxic condition due to the location where the veteran served. For example, Hodgkin's disease is presumptively service-connected if a veteran served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, because the veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.

There are more than 20 presumptive service-connected disabilities recognized by the VA. However, individuals who lived or worked alongside veterans at these same locations - including spouses and family members - are not eligible for benefits, even when they develop the same conditions.

The Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act would address this inequity by extending VA health care eligibility to family members and other individuals who meet specific criteria: they must be diagnosed with an enumerated presumptive service-connected disability; have been present at a location and during a time period recognized by the VA for presumptive exposure; and demonstrate that their condition did not result from another cause. Individuals would also be required to exhaust any claims against third parties before qualifying for VA health care. This framework mirrors the approach used in the Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 (Public Law No: 112-154).

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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare, Veterans' Affairs