[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 125 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 990. Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the end of subtitle C of title VI, add the following:

     SEC. 633. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO MEMBERS OF 
                   THE ARMED FORCES REGARDING POSSIBLE TOXIC 
                   EXPOSURE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall 
     submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     on--
       (1) efforts by the Department of Defense to conduct risk 
     assessments for toxic exposure for members of the Armed 
     Forces assigned to work near burn pits;
       (2) steps taken by the Department to inform members of the 
     Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits of--
       (A) risks of toxic exposure; and
       (B) benefits and support programs furnished by the 
     Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     (including eligibility requirements and timelines) regarding 
     toxic exposure; and
       (3) specific areas of improvement and recommendations for 
     future action related to toxic exposure risk assessments and 
     subsequent outreach to members of the Armed Forces.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (2) Toxic exposure.--The term ``toxic exposure'' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
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