[117th Congress Public Law 133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1237]]
DR. KATE HENDRICKS THOMAS SUPPORTING EXPANDED REVIEW FOR VETERANS IN
COMBAT ENVIRONMENTS ACT
[[Page 136 STAT. 1238]]
Public Law 117-133
117th Congress
An Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Under Secretary for
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mammography
screening for veterans who served in locations associated with toxic
exposure. <<NOTE: June 7, 2022 - [S. 2102]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Dr. Kate
Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat
Environments Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting
Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act'' or the ``Dr.
Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act''.
SEC. 2. REVISION OF BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAPHY POLICY OF DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE MAMMOGRAPHY
SCREENING FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN LOCATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH TOXIC EXPOSURE.
(a) In General.--Section 7322 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The'' and inserting
``In General.--The'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``The'' and inserting ``Standards
for Screening.--The''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``a record of
service in a location and during a period specified in
subsection (d),'' after ``risk factors,''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Eligibility for Screening for Veterans Exposed to Toxic
Substances.--The Under Secretary for Health shall ensure that, under the
policy developed under subsection (a), any veteran who, during active
military, naval, or air service, was deployed in support of a
contingency operation in a location and during a period specified in
subsection (d), is eligible for a mammography screening by a health care
provider of the Department.
``(d) <<NOTE: Country listing. Determinations.>> Locations and
Periods Specified.--(1) The locations and periods specified in this
subsection are the following:
``(A) Iraq during following periods:
``(i) The period beginning on August 2, 1990, and
ending on February 28, 1991.
``(ii) The period beginning on March 19, 2003, and
ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Iraq.
``(B) The Southwest Asia theater of operations, other than
Iraq, during the period beginning on August 2, 1990, and ending
[[Page 131 STAT. 1239]]
on such date as the Secretary determines burn pits are no longer
used in such location, including the following locations:
``(i) Kuwait.
``(ii) Saudi Arabia.
``(iii) Oman.
``(iv) Qatar.
``(C) Afghanistan during the period beginning on September
11, 2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines
burn pits are no longer used in Afghanistan.
``(D) Djibouti during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Djibouti.
``(E) Syria during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Syria.
``(F) Jordan during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Jordan.
``(G) Egypt during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Egypt.
``(H) Lebanon during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Lebanon.
``(I) Yemen during the period beginning on September 11,
2001, and ending on such date as the Secretary determines burn
pits are no longer used in Yemen.
``(J) Such other locations and corresponding periods as set
forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry
established under section 201 of the Dignified Burial and Other
Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260;
38 U.S.C. 527 note).
``(K) Such other locations and corresponding periods as the
Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, may
determine appropriate in a report submitted under paragraph (2).
``(2) <<NOTE: Time period. Reports.>> Not later than two years
after the date of the enactment of the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas
Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act, and
not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense,
shall submit to Congress a report specifying other locations and
corresponding periods for purposes of paragraph (1)(K).
``(3) A location under this subsection shall not include any body of
water around or any airspace above such location.
``(4) <<NOTE: Definition.>> In this subsection, the term `burn pit'
means an area of land that--
``(A) is used for disposal of solid waste by burning in the
outdoor air; and
``(B) does not contain a commercially manufactured
incinerator or other equipment specifically designed and
manufactured for the burning of solid waste.''.
(b) Report on Breast Cancer Rates for Veterans Deployed to Certain
Areas.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the House of Representatives
[[Page 131 STAT. 1240]]
a report that compares the rates of breast cancer among members of the
Armed Forces deployed to the locations and during the periods specified
in section 7322(d) of title 38, United States Code, as added by
subsection (a), as compared to members of the Armed Forces who were not
deployed to those locations during those periods and to the civilian
population.
Approved June 7, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2102:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Mar. 24, considered and passed Senate.
May 18, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2022):
June 7, Presidential remarks.
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