TREA: The Enlisted Association Blog

Washington Update for February 8th, 2018

House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members Named

 

On January 22, TREA members were provided full committee rosters for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Rep. Mark Takano (CA) was named Chairman and Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN) was named Ranking Member. The Full Committee completed its organizational meeting and TREA is pleased to provide the list of Subcommittee Chairman and Ranking Members to our membership. 

 

Chairman Takano announced that Rep. Conor Lamb (PA) will serve as Vice Chairman.

In addition, leadership at the Subcommittee level is:

 

Chair: Rep. Elaine Luria (VA) Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs;

Chair: Rep. Mike Levin (CA) Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity;

Chair: Rep. Julia Brownley (CA) Subcommittee on Health;

Chair: Rep. Chris Pappas (NH) Investigations and Oversight; and

Chair: Rep. Susie Lee (NV) Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

 

Ranking Member Roe announced leadership at the Subcommittee level as:

 

Ranking Member: Rep. Mike Bost (IL) Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs;

Ranking Member: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL) Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity;

Ranking Member: Rep. Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL) Subcommittee on Health;

Ranking Member: Rep. Jack Bergman (MI) Investigations and Oversight; and

Ranking Member: Rep. Jim Banks (IN) Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

 

 

TREA Supports Burn Pit Legislation

 

TREA continues to support legislative proposals for veterans and service members. One proposal, The Burn Pits Accountability Act would evaluate the exposure of U.S. service members and veterans to open burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals by:

 

1)    Requiring the Secretary of Defense to record whether service members have been based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals, including any information recorded as part of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, in the Periodic Health Assessment (PHAs), Separation History and Physical Examination (SHPEs), and Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHAs).

 

2)    Enrolling any service member who meets the above criteria in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, unless he or she opts-out.

 

3) Requiring the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share information relating to exposure of burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals recorded in PHAs, SHPEs, and PDHAs.

 

TREA wants to hear from and help you.  Are you a veteran or a family member of a veteran who served near open burn pits and may have been exposed to toxic chemicals?