Possible Bill to Cover “Forever Chemicals” Coming Soon?
I’ve written before about some of the gaps in recognition under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act). Now, a new bill has been introduced to hopefully cover some of those gaps.
The bill, titled “Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act,’’ or the ‘‘VET PFAS Act,” would designate exposure to PFAS as a service-connected condition for veterans, making them eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs.[1] It would also include healthcare such as hospital and medical services for specified diseases and conditions for some military dependents.
As of the writing of this, the Department of Defense has identified over 718 bases with known or assumed PFAS. PFAS are polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are long lasting chemicals that very slowly dissolve. The CDC states that PFAS may lead to increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, decreased vaccine response in children, increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, small decreases in infant birth weights and increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer. You can learn more about PFAS at the CDC’s website for PFAS research by clicking here.