United States 117th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 1355 — K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain diseases becoming manifest in a veteran who served on active duty at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. Specifically, there must be a presumption of service-connection for veterans who manifest illnesses that have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint, as determined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Veterans who served at K2 Air Base during the specified period are eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for an illness that has been determined by NASEM to have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, and medical care · 38 U.S.C. ch. 17 1 section
  • § 1710 Eligibility for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care Amends

    38 U.S.C. § 1710 — at 1710(e)

    The law today

    (a) (1) The Secretary (subject to paragraph (4)) shall furnish hospital care and medical services which the Secretary determines to be needed— (A) to any veteran for a service-connected disability; and (B) to any veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 50 percent or more. (2) The Secretary (subject to paragraph (4)) shall furnish hospital care and medical services, and may furnish nursing home care, which the Secretary determines to be needed to any veteran— (A) who has a compensable service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent or, with respect to nursing home care during any period during which the provisions of section 1710A(a) of this title are in effect, a compensable service-connected disability rated less than 70 percent; (B) whose discharge or release from active military, naval, air, or space service was for a disability that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty; (C) who is in receipt of, or who, but for a suspension pursuant to section 1151 of this title (or both a suspension and the receipt of retired pay), would be entitled to disability compensation, but only to the extent that such veteran’s continuing eligibility for such care is provided for in the judgment or settlement provided for in such section; (D) who is a former prisoner of war, who was awarded the medal of honor under section 7271, 8291, or 9271 of title 10 or section 491 1 of title 14, or who was awarded the Purple Heart; (E) who is a veteran of— (i) the Mexican border period; (ii) World War I; or (iii) World War II; (F) who is a toxic-exposed veteran, in accordance with subsection (e); or (G) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary care as determined under section 1722(a) of this title. (3) In the case of a veteran who is not described in paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary may, to the extent resources and facilities are available and subject to the provisions of subsections (f) and (g), furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care which the Secretary determines to be needed. (4) The requirement in paragraphs (1) and (2) that the Secretary furnish hospital care and medical services, the requirement in section 1710A(a) of this title that the Secretary provide nursing home care, the requirement in section 1710B of this title that the Secretary provide a program of extended care services, and the requirement in section 1745 of this title to provide nursing home care and prescription medicines to veterans with service-connected disabilities in State homes shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purposes. (5) During any period during which the provisions of section 1710A(a) of this title are not in effect, the Secretary may furnish nursing home care which the Secretary determines is needed to any veteran described in paragraph (1), with the priority for such care on the same basis as if provided under that paragraph. (b) (1) The Secretary may furnish to a veteran described in paragraph (2) of this subsection such domiciliary care as the Secretary determines is needed for the purpose of the furnishing of medical services to the veteran. (2) This subsection applies in the case of the following veterans: (A) Any veteran whose annual income (as determined under section 1503 of this title) does not exceed the maximum annual rate of pension that would be applicable to the veteran if the veteran were eligible for pension under section 1521(d) of this title. (B) Any veteran who the Secretary determines has no adequate means of support. (c) While any veteran is receiving hospital care or nursing home care in any Department facility, the Secretary may, within the limits of Department facilities, furnish medical services to correct or treat any non-service-connected disability of such veteran, in addition to treatment incident to the disability for which such veteran is hospitalized, if the veteran is willing, an...

    70 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 38 U.S.C. § 1110, 38 U.S.C. § 1113

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds eligibility for health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, to existing law.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1710(e)

    (G) A veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces at Karshi Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, during the period beginning on January 1, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005, is eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any illness or disease for which the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determine has a positive association, including a sufficient, limited, or suggestive association, with exposure to any of the following substances, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illness or disease is attributable to such service: (i) Jet fuel. (ii) Volatile organic compounds. (iii) High levels of particulate matter and dust resulting from open burn pits, as defined in section 201(c) of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 38 U.S.C. 527 note). (iv) Depleted uranium. (v) Asbestos. (vi) Lead-based paint.

    This change establishes a new category of eligibility for veterans who served at a specific location during a defined period and were exposed to certain toxic substances.

  • 38 U.S.C. § 1710(e)(2)(B)

    or (F) → (F), or (G)

    This modification updates references within the statute to include the newly added eligibility category.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 1355 do?
K2 Veterans Care Act of 2021 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for certain diseases becoming manifest in a veteran who served on active duty at Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. Specifically, there must be a presumption of service-connection for veterans who manifest illnesses that have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint, as determined by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Veterans who served at K2 Air Base during the specified period are eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for an illness that has been determined by NASEM to have a positive association with exposure to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, high levels of particulate matter, depleted uranium, asbestos, or lead-based paint.
Who sponsors HR 1355?
HR 1355 is sponsored by Lynch, Stephen F. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 1355?
This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 1355?
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