S. 2950: Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2019-11-21 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 542.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-11-21 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 542. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020

Plain summary

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020 This bill establishes a presumption, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits and wartime disability compensation, that a veteran was exposed to certain toxic substances, chemicals, and hazards from burn pits if such veteran served on active duty in a covered location during a specified time frame. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air. Specifically, the bill covers the following covered locations and corresponding time periods Iraq, between August 2, 1990, and February 28, 1991, as well as from March 19, 2003, until burn pits are no longer used in this location; Southwest Asia (including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar), from August 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Yemen from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and other locations and time periods set forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry or determined by the VA. Under the bill, if an exposed veteran submits insufficient evidence to establish a service-connection for purposes of disability compensation, the VA shall provide a medical examination and request medical opinions regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxic substance, chemical, or hazard.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] · 30 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Boozman (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), James E. Risch (R-ID), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] reported raising $11.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116s2950.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/s>

Record fed-us-cong116-s2950 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116