The military routinely used burn pits to dispose of waste during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We are not doing right by our veterans by being fiscally irresponsible in their name," Miller-Meeks said. She also noted that the projected cost of the bill is more than the budgets of nine Cabinet-level departments combined. Army veteran and said she hears from fellow veterans frequently in Iowa who wait months, or even years, for the benefits they earned, and that problem will only grow if the bill becomes law. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa to do all the talking Wednesday in opposition to the bill. Mark Takano of California, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "This bill addresses the true cost of war and opposing it would be a vote against our service members and veterans," said Rep. The political dynamics surrounding the vote was evident on the House floor Wednesday as scores of Democrats, some from competitive swing districts, spoke in favor of the bill.
They expressed worry that the influx of cases would tax an already stressed VA system, leading to longer wait times for health care and processing disability claims. Opponents of the legislation say it would grant health and disability benefits to many veterans whose conditions may not have anything to do with their military service. The bill's supporters say it is a clear recognition from Congress that veterans were exposed to toxic substances, they are suffering as a result, and the process of proving to the VA that their illness was caused by their exposure is too burdensome. The VA would presume that veterans developed their illness as a result of exposure to toxic substances during their service. The bill also would provide new or increased disability benefits to thousands of veterans who have become ill with cancer or respiratory conditions such as bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. The bill would open up Department of Veterans Affairs health care to millions of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service even if they don't have a service-connected disability. Law Veterans sick after toxic burn pit exposure are still struggling to get care covered
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