A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Waste Incineration Protection, Exposure Oversight, and Updated Tracking of Burn Pits Act or the WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act. It requires the Department of Defense to revise its policies to identify and report open-air burn pits not controlled by the Department of Defense that are located near members of the Armed Forces. The legislation mandates air quality testing around these identified burn pits and requires that exposure risks and testing data be included in the individual health records of potentially exposed service members. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense must submit a report to Congress on existing open-air burn pits within 90 days of enactment. The bill also orders the deployment of alternative solid waste disposal systems where Department-controlled burn pits exist, and requires engagement with host nations to eliminate their use of open-air burn pits.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The legislation directly aids current and future veterans by documenting toxic exposures from burn pits in their official health records.
- Scored +7
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill mandates tracking and recording exposure risks from burn pits in service members' permanent health records, which aids future benefits claims.
- Scored +6
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill improves health tracking and exposure documentation for service members exposed to burn pits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(c) - Air Quality Testing: This provision requires the lead service component to collect and evaluate air quality data, including testing for toxins commonly associated with open-air burn pits, in and around the area of the burn pit. This is positive because it documents the environmental effects of the burning.
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Section 3(e) - Health Record Inclusion: The Secretary must ensure that documented exposure risks and testing data are incorporated into the individual health records of potentially exposed members of the Armed Forces, and incorporated into exposure tracking mechanisms. This benefits service members by keeping a permanent record of their potential toxic exposures for future health tracking.
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Section 5 - Deployment of Alternative Systems: The Secretary is required to deploy, use, and sustain alternative solid waste disposal systems at locations where Department-operated or Department-generated open-air burn pits exist. This provision provides safer waste disposal methods that protect people from open-air burning hazards.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the explicit text of the bill, there are no specific provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The legislation directly aids current and future veterans by documenting toxic exposures from burn pits in their official health records. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Active-duty service members, who are disproportionately young adults, benefit from enhanced exposure tracking and health protections near burn pits.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill mandates tracking and recording exposure risks from burn pits in service members' permanent health records, which aids future benefits claims. Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to engage with host nations to eliminate the use of open-air burn pits.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill improves health tracking and exposure documentation for service members exposed to burn pits. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Incorporating exposure data and testing results into individual health records enhances long-term healthcare tracking for military personnel.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill requires air quality testing around burn pits and mandates the deployment of alternative solid waste disposal systems.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires comprehensive reporting to Congress on existing open-air burn pits and exposure locations.
- 11/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho