Hudson Calls on VA Secretary to Support Veterans Who Served in Syria
July 6, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), along with Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), are leading the bipartisan effort to call on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to expand the Department of Veterans Affairs Open Burn Pit Registry to include veterans who have served in Syria.
In a letter to Sec. Wilkie, the Members wrote:
"Given the significant exposure of US servicemembers to open burn pits in Syria, we believe their exposure during US operations in the area meets the same intent for coverage that was previously granted to veterans serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Southwest Asia theatre of operations."
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"We ask that you consider this request as we work together to continue to provide the best care possible for our nation’s veterans."
Read the entire letter here.
The Open Burn Pit Registry was established under the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2012. Previously, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs has acted under the authority granted to him to expand the Open Burn Pit Registry to include the 2014 expansion that was designed to capture exposure of Persian Gulf War veterans. In an April 2019 report to Congress, the Department of Defense noted the significant exposure of servicemembers to burn pits across the Middle East, including Syria.
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Issues:Veterans