Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011 Update
This is the DanielMeyerBlog.Com and BurnPits360.Org Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011 Update.
On Thursday, November 3, 2011, Congressman Todd Akin announced at a press conference the introduction of the Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011. The bill, which has bi-partisan support, was also introduced to the Senate by Senator Tom Udall. The bill is quickly building a cast of co-sponsors as well. In the House of Representatives, these 18 representatives have signed on to co-sponsor the bill:
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6]
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU]
Rep Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
Rep Castor, Kathy [D-FL-11]
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14]
Rep Franks, Trent [R-AZ-2]
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-7]
Rep Hanna, Richard L. [R-NY-24]
Rep Heinrich, Martin [D-NM-1]
Rep Kissell, Larry [D-NC-8]
Rep Latham, Tom [R-IA-4]
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ-2]
Rep Long, Billy [R-MO-7]
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3]
Rep Owens, William L. [D-NY-23]
Rep Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2]
Rep Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-29]
The following veteran organizations are fully supporting this important piece of legislation as well:
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
American Veterans (AMVETS)
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
American Legion
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
Burn Pits 360
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
Air Force Association (AFA)
Non-Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)
Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees (USDR)
Association of the United States Navy (AUSN)
Lastly, here are the official bill numbers for the HoR and Senate:
Sponsor: Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] (introduced 11/3/2011) Cosponsors (18)
Committees: House Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Sponsor: Sen Udall, Tom [NM] (introduced 11/3/2011) Cosponsors (7)
Committees: Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Major Action: 11/3/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
What’s Next?
The bill is unofficially scheduled to be voted on some time after the New Year. The goal for DanielMeyerBlog.Com and BurnPits360.Org is to continue urging constituents to contact their representatives. We need as many co-sponsors as possible before the bill is officially brought in front of Congress for a vote.
Here’s how you can help. We have put together a letter that you can use to send to your representative. You can download the letter here. If you need help finding out who your representative is, you can use this great website.
Now it’s time to send your completed letter to your representative. This website has fax numbers and links to contact forms for all our representatives.
For myself, and all the veterans who are suffering from exposure to toxic burn pits, please make sure your Congressman or Senator is supporting this bill. All of you can make a difference and your help is greatly appreciated!
Related posts:
Thank you all for supporting this issue.
Joanne Ochs
Mother of a Fallen Soldier
In Loving Memory of SSG Steven G. Ochs
1975–2008
(burnpit victim)
Joanne, I’m sorry for your loss. While I’m alive, I’ll never give up trying to raise awareness for this awful situation. There are so many people who are doing great things in assisting burn pit victims and together we all make an incredible team. No single person could do what we are all doing as a group collectively. I will continue to help by writing the best articles I can for the cause!
Daniel,
I am so sorry to learn of the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. They sound horrible, and I’m very sorry for the pain they caused you.
I’ve just sent your letter or to my representatives in California. I hope they’ll help with this legislation.
All the best to you, and thanks for all your work to help others.
Best,
Diana
Daniel,
I just received a letter today from my Congresswoman, Anna Eshoo, which said:
“I believe it’s our nation’s sacred obligation to uphold the promises we’ve made to our veterans, and should this legislation come before me on the floor of the House, I will certainly vote for it.”.
Let’s hope it comes up for a vote soon!
Best wishes,
Diana
Diana, I sure hope it does! I am trying to do my best to stay on top of it! Thank you for writing your Congresswoman and I think if we can get the bill to the floor it will pass! Keep up the great work and next write your Senators and ask them to pass S. 1798!
Hi Daniel,
I’ve already written to my Senators, but just haven’t received a reply back. I’ll let you know as soon as I do!
Best,
Diana
Saying & doing are 2 different things…
Hi Daniel,
I received the following letter today from Senator Dianne Feinstein:
Thank you for writing to express your support for the “Open Burn Pit Registry Act” (S. 1798). Your correspondence is important to me, and I apologize for the delay in my response.
First, let me express my sincere appreciation for the members of the Armed Forces who have answered the call to duty and selflessly sacrificed for our Nation. On November 3, 2011, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced the “Open Burn Pit Registry Act.” This legislation was included in the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012″ (H.R.1540), which was signed into law by President Obama on December 31, 2011 (Public Law 112–81). The law requires a health assessment report on each open-air burn pit at a location where at least 100 personnel have been employed for 90 consecutive days or more.
Once again, thank you for your letter. I hope you find this information useful. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224‑3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
Diana,
I just went online and checked the status of the burn bit registry act and it’s still intact. Unfortunately, the revision she mentioned in her response to you indicates an assessment on the burn pit location itself, not on the individual service members. HR. 3337 and S. 1798 are still sitting in committee and have yet to move. You are doing great work with contacting your representatives and I would suggest you respond to her that what she stated is not protecting the service members or creating the very important registry needed to track all this data!
Keep up the great work!
Dan
Daniel„, I am a 100% disabled Ex-Marine of Vietnam.. I’ve been following these burn pits from day one. Contact ALL my representatives and even help some Vets fill out ‘whatever’ forms needed. Although not nearly as consumed as you, my Agent Orange has made life hell.. My main bitch was the birth defects of my children.. That saddens me to no end.. There are a few web sites here (and growing) that are actually making people get involved.. (Am from N.J.) If there is anything you need or I can do from here„ please do not hesitate to contact me or others.. The Registry is a start„ but you have a long haul ahead.. The main thing is to get the VA to “RECOGNIZE” the burn pit effects.. You need as many studies as possible and registry signatures of everyone.. Though my illnesses are minimal to yours„ please do not hesitate to reach out…
Dino,
First off, thank you so much for your service. I have the utmost respect for people who have sacrificed so much to defend our great nation. It is so admirable that you are helping veterans who are suffering as a result of being exposed to burn pits. Our generation definitely appreciates the knowledge and understanding of the VA system that our Vietnam era veterans bring to the table. On another note, I am appreciative beyond words about your offer to help me in any way possible. You’d be amazed at how many people offer help but never end up coming through. I have been waiting on about 5 different contacts to help me acquire a SoloRider which would allow me to actually go out on a golf course. If it happens, awesome. If not, it won’t hurt my feelings in any way.
Please take care of yourself and I will stay in contact!
V?R,
Daniel Meyer