Menendez Gulf War Provision Included In Historic, Sweeping Bill To Help Veterans Suffering From Toxic Exposures

Press Release

COST of War Act would guarantee VA benefits, care, and resources to generations of veterans suffering from toxic exposures experienced during line of duty
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today applauded introduction of historic sweeping legislation in the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC) that would guarantee, for the first time, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and care to generations of veterans suffering from toxic exposures. The Comprehensive and Overdue Support for Troops (COST) of War Act of 2021, marked up and passed out of SVAC today with bipartisan support, includes Sen. Menendez's legislation to extend these benefits to Gulf War veterans.

"Our veterans have made enormous sacrifices and served our country with honor and dignity, and they deserve more than just our appreciation," said Sen. Menendez. "They deserve the Nation's commitment to
that ensure they have access to the resources and benefits they need to live a healthy and successful life beyond the call of duty."
The COST of War Act of 2021 recognizes the federal government's responsibility to provide health care and disability compensation to veterans fighting the effects of toxic exposure connected to their military service. This legislation would allow all veterans who were at risk of toxic exposure, including 3.5 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, to obtain immediate and lifelong access to health care from the VA. It would also establish a new science-based and veteran-focused process for the establishment of new presumptive conditions, and would provide benefits to thousands of toxic exposure veterans who have been long-ignored or forgotten, including Agent Orange veterans suffering from hypertension.

This legislation incorporates key provisions from Sen. Menendez's Improving Benefits for Gulf War Veterans Act in the overall legislative package. The Menendez bill expands and improves access to essential benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and other wars in the region. These veterans often suffer from unexplained chronic symptoms known as the "Gulf War Illness," which can include symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, memory loss, insomnia, and respiratory disorders. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins have been linked to these symptoms. The provisions from the Menendez bill includes removing the end dates for Gulf War Illness disability eligibility and requires VA staff to enact a Disability Benefits Questionnaire specifically to ensure that Gulf War veterans are screened for Gulf War Illness with a mandated report to Congress on this implementation annually.

"I applaud Sen. Tester's leadership on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and his commitment to the brave men and women who have experienced toxic exposures in service to this nation and deserve to have access to high-quality care and benefits through the VA," added Sen. Menendez. "I am particularly pleased that my bill to provide Gulf War veterans with improved access to essential benefits and resources was included as a provision in this sweeping piece of legislation."
In addition to Sen. Menendez's Gulf War provisions, the COST of War Act of 2021 would:

· Ensure that toxic exposure veterans get immediate and lifelong access to VA health care, including up to 3.5 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans;

· Establish a consistent, transparent framework based on medical and scientific evidence to drive the establishment of new presumptions of service connection between a condition and a toxic exposure;

· Reduce the burden on toxic exposure veterans claiming a direct service connection without a presumption, by requiring VA to examine a veteran's military records for proof of toxic exposure and to consider whether other evidence shows such records are wrong or incomplete.

· Acknowledge that for certain toxic exposure veterans the science supports the creation of new presumptions of service connection, including Agent Orange veterans suffering from hypertension or Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Burn Pit veterans suffering from various lung-related conditions or glioblastoma;

· Focus federal research to support toxic exposure veterans and ensure that the toxic exposure framework is based on sound science;

· Strengthen VA's toxic exposure processes from health care to disability benefits, by requiring specialized toxic exposure training for VA health care and disability claims processing personnel; and

· Guarantee toxic exposures are accurately recorded before veterans seek VA health care and benefits, by requiring an independent study on the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record.

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