Sponsors (4)
Creates a statutory presumption that specified diseases from burn pit/toxic exposure during contingency operations are job-related for covered federal employees and law enforcement.
Official title: To amend title 5, United States Code, to improve access to workers' compensation for civilian Federal employees exposed to toxic burn pits, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 27, 2026 by Nellie Pou · Last progress April 27, 2026
The bill makes it substantially easier for many federal employees and qualifying law-enforcement to obtain benefits for burn-pit–related illnesses by creating a presumption and aligning adjudication lists, while raising federal costs and potentially delaying or excluding coverage for some conditions and short-term exposures.
Federal civilian employees and qualifying law-enforcement personnel who served at least 30 days in contingency operations will have diseases linked to burn pits presumed work-related, making it easier for them to obtain FECA compensation and benefits.
Federal employees and veterans will face fewer conflicting decisions because the Department of Labor's presumptive disease list is aligned with the VA's list under 38 U.S.C. 1120(b), improving consistency across benefit systems.
Taxpayers, Congress, and affected employees will get greater transparency because the Department of Labor must report within one year on implementation and the number of eligible employees.
Taxpayers could face higher federal compensation costs because expanding presumptions increases likely FECA payouts or requires budget reallocations.
Federal employees and veterans may experience delayed coverage for diseases newly linked to burn pits because Labor cannot add conditions until the VA completes its separate regulatory process.
Some sick federal employees with shorter deployments (under the 30-day threshold) will be excluded from the presumption, leaving them to pursue individual claims despite probable exposure.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a legal presumption that certain diseases linked to exposure to burn pits and other toxic hazards during foreign contingency operations are proximately caused by federal employment for specified Federal employees and Federal law enforcement officers who served at least 30 total days on or after August 2, 1990. Sets definitions, adopts an initial list of covered diseases aligned with existing Veterans Affairs law, and requires coordination so Labor adds future diseases only after VA finalizes related VA rulemaking. Applies prospectively to compensation claims filed on or after enactment and requires a one-year implementation report to Congress with counts of eligible employees and other implementation details.