[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8524 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8524
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 27, 2026
Ms. Pou (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Maloy) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Kenya Merritt Renewing our Promise
to Address Chemical Toxicity Act of 2026'' or the ``Kenya Merritt
Renewing our PACT Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. CERTAIN DISEASES DEEMED TO BE PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY EMPLOYMENT
FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO TOXIC BURN PITS.
(a) Establishment of Presumption.--Subchapter I of chapter 81 of
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section
8143b the following:
``Sec. 8143c. Employees exposed to burn pits and toxic hazards in
foreign contingency operations
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Contingency operation.--The term `contingency
operation' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of
title 10.
``(2) Eligible employee.--The term `eligible employee'
means an employee of the Department of Justice, the Department
of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of the
Treasury, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, or an element of
the intelligence community, or a Federal law enforcement
officer, who, on or after August 2, 1990, carried out the job
responsibilities of that employee for not fewer than 30 total
days in a country or territory while the United States was
conducting a contingency operation in that country or
territory.
``(3) Federal law enforcement officer.--The term `Federal
law enforcement officer' has the meaning given to the term in
section 2 of the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery
Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 50301).
``(4) Intelligence community.--The term `intelligence
community' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).
``(5) Open burn pit.--The term `open burn pit' has the
meaning given the term in section 201(c) of the Dignified
Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (38
U.S.C. 527 note).
``(b) Presumption of Employment Connection for Certain Diseases
Associated With Exposure to Burn Pits and Other Toxins.--For a claim
under this subchapter of disability or death of an eligible employee, a
disease specified on the list established under subsection (c), as
updated under that subsection, shall be deemed to have been incurred in
or aggravated during the employment of that eligible employee,
notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease
during the period of such employment.
``(c) List of Diseases Deemed Proximately Caused by Employment.--
``(1) Establishment of initial list.--There is established
under this section a list of diseases that aligns with the
diseases specified in section 1120(b) of title 38, including
all diseases with respect to which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs prescribed regulations in the manner described in
paragraph (15) of such section 1120(b) before the date of
enactment of this section.
``(2) Additions to list.--
``(A) Limitation.--On and after the date of
enactment of this section, a disease may not be added
to the list established under paragraph (1) unless the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs adds that disease to the
list under section 1120(b) of title 38 pursuant to
regulations described in paragraph (15) of such section
1120(b).
``(B) Application.--Not later than 90 days after
the date that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
finalizes regulations described in subparagraph (A),
the Secretary of Labor shall, by direct final rule, add
the same disease to the list established under
paragraph (1).
``(3) Maintenance by secretary of labor.--The Secretary of
Labor shall maintain the list established and updated under
this subsection.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter I of
chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 8143b the following:
``8143c. Employees exposed to burn pits and toxic hazards in foreign
contingency operations.''.
(c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
to a claim for compensation filed on or after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(d) Report on Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate
and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of
Representatives a report on the progress of implementing this Act and
the amendments made by this Act, including the number of individuals
who are eligible employees, as defined in section 8143c(a) of title 5,
United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section.
<all>