S.Amdt. 263

SA 263. Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title VI, add the following:

SEC. 633. OUTREACH TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES REGARDING
POSSIBLE TOXIC EXPOSURE.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall
establish--
(1) a new risk assessment for toxic exposure for members of
the Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits; and
(2) an outreach program to inform such members--
(A) regarding such risk of toxic exposure; and
(B) regarding benefits and support programs furnished by
the Secretary of Defense (including eligibility requirements
and timelines) regarding toxic exposure.
(b) Promotion.--The Secretary of Defense shall promote the
outreach program required under subsection (a) to members of
the Armed Forces assigned to work near burn pits by direct
mail, email, text messaging, and social media.
(c) Publication.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
publish on a website of the Department of Defense a list of
resources furnished by the Secretary for--
(1) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who
experienced toxic exposure in the course of serving as a
member of the Armed Forces;
(2) dependents and caregivers of such members and veterans;
and
(3) survivors of such members and veterans who receive
death benefits under laws administered by the Secretary.
(d) Toxic Exposure Defined.--In this section, the term
``toxic exposure'' has the meaning given that term in section
101 of title 38, United States Code.
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