Exposure to toxins, whether herbicides or fumes of chemicals from a burn pits, has long been an issue facing certain service members both at home and abroad. Years of research has produced reports of the debilitating health problems and, in some cases, deaths attributed to exposure to these toxins. Sen. Thom Tillis (NC) and Rep. Mike Bost (IL) recently introduced comprehensive legislation to cover all possible toxicants developed by the TEAM (Toxic Exposure in the American Military) Coalition, which includes FRA. "The Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act" (TEAM Act- S.927/ H. R. 2127) expands access to preventative and diagnostic services for veterans exposed to toxins and establishes an independent scientific commission tasked with researching the health effects of such toxic exposure and reporting its findings to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Congress.
FRA wants to ensure that no veteran who had exposure to burn pits or other environmental toxins goes without access to VA health care benefits.