Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
PUBLIC LAW 117–133—JUNE 7, 2022
DR. KATE HENDRICKS THOMAS SUPPORTING
EXPANDED REVIEW FOR VETERANS IN
COMBAT ENVIRONMENTS ACT
VerDate Sep 11 2014
08:49 Jun 09, 2022
Jkt 029139
PO 00133
Frm 00001
Fmt 6579
Sfmt 6579
E:\PUBLAW\PUBL133.117
PUBL133
whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW
136 STAT. 1238
PUBLIC LAW 117–133—JUNE 7, 2022
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. 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) 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
Country listing.
Determinations.
38 USC 101 note.
Dr. Kate
Hendricks
Thomas
Supporting
Expanded
Review for
Veterans In
Combat
Environments
Act.
June 7, 2022
[S. 2102]
VerDate Sep 11 2014
08:49 Jun 09, 2022
Jkt 029139
PO 00133
Frm 00002
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
E:\PUBLAW\PUBL133.117
PUBL133
whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW
136 STAT. 1239
PUBLIC LAW 117–133—JUNE 7, 2022
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 para-
graph (2).
‘‘(2) 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) 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 inciner-
ator 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
Definition.
Time period.
Reports.
VerDate Sep 11 2014
08:49 Jun 09, 2022
Jkt 029139
PO 00133
Frm 00003
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
E:\PUBLAW\PUBL133.117
PUBL133
whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW
136 STAT. 1240
PUBLIC LAW 117–133—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.
Æ
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.
VerDate Sep 11 2014
08:49 Jun 09, 2022
Jkt 029139
PO 00133
Frm 00004
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
E:\PUBLAW\PUBL133.117
PUBL133
whamilton on LAPJF8D0R2PROD with PUBLAW