Public Law 117-133 passed June 7, 2022

Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act

Revision of Breast Cancer Mammography Policy of Department of Veterans Affairs to Provide Mammography Screening for Veterans who Served in Locations Associated with Toxic Exposure.

In General

Section 7322 title 38, United States Code amended-

Subsection (a) strike “The”, insert “In General.-The”;

Subsection (b) strike “The”, insert “STANDARDS FOR SCREENING.-The”;

Paragraph (2)(B) insert “a record of service in a location and during a period specified in subsection (d),” after “risk factors” and add at the end of the new subsection:

“ Eligibility For Screening for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances, - Under Secretary for Health, ensure under the policy developed, any veteran during active military, naval or air service was deployed in a contingency operation in a location and during a specific period, is eligible for a mammography screening by a health care provider of the Department.

“Locations and Periods Specified.-

  • Iraq

    • August 2, 1990 to February 28, 1991

    • March 19, 2003 and ending on a date the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used.

  • Southwest Asia theatre of operations other than Iraq

    • August 2, 1990 and ending on a date the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used in the following locations:

      • Kuwait

      • Saudi Arabia

      • Oman

      • Qatar

All locations and periods specified as beginning September 11, 2001 and ending on a date the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer used.

  • Afghanistan

  • Djibouti

  • Syria

  • Jordan

  • Egypt

  • Lebanon

  • Yemen

Other locations and timeframes set by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 USC 527 note).

Other locations and periods as the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense will collaborate a report:

2 years after the enactment of this Act, and once every 2 years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense will submit a report to Congress specifying locations and corresponding periods for purposes including-

Locations shall NOT include any body of water around or any airspace above the location.

‘Burn pit’ means an area of land that is used for disposal of solid waste by burning in the outdoor air and does NOT contain a commercially manufactured incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and manufactured for the burning of solid waste.

Report on Breast Cancer Rates for Veterans Deployed to Certain Areas

2 years after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs will submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report comparing rates of breast cancer among member of the Armed Forces deployed specified in section 7322(d) of title 38, United StatesCode as added, compared to members of the Armed Forces who were NOT deployed in this locations and to the civilian populations.