H.R. 2607 · 117th Congress
FASTER Presumptions Act
Key: what the circles and colors mean
Each circle is a bill. The ring fills as it moves through Congress:
Under the number: the Yea · Nay count of its final (or latest) recorded vote. On a member's page, the small badge is how that member voted: Y Yea / Aye, N Nay / No, P Present, – Not voting.
Gold and violet are only for Yea and Nay; they never mean a party. A member's party is the letter on their photo.
Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
TroneSponsor5 cosponsors · 4 D, 1 R
0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Fairly Assessing Service-related Toxic Exposure Residuals Presumptions Act or the FASTER Presumptions Act
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Apr 15, 2021
Fairly Assessing Service-related Toxic Exposure Residuals Presumptions Act or the FASTER Presumptions Act
This bill revises policies and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) related to establishing or modifying presumptions of service-connection based on toxic exposure. The bill sets up a procedure by which the VA must determine whether to establish, remove, or modify via regulations presumptions of service-connection based on toxic exposure.
Specifically, the bill establishes within the VA the Formal Advisory Committee on Toxic Exposure, the Science Review Board, and the Working Group to assist with the various procedures in establishing or removing presumptions of service-connection. Such procedures include assessing the exposure of veterans to toxic substances during active service, evaluating research on the health effects of exposure, and making recommendations based on the evidence and research.
The bill also establishes the Expert Advisory Panel on Constrictive Bronchiolitis within the VA to develop guidelines for VA research on symptomatic veterans who served on active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and have bronchiolitis.
The Department of Defense must develop and implement a plan to strengthen data collection with respect to members of the Armed Forces (including the reserve components) who are exposed to toxic substances while serving.
The VA must initiate or sponsor various studies related to veterans who served on active duty in certain locations.
Finally, the VA must provide annual training to relevant employees to improve the handling of claims for compensation and benefits that relate to toxic exposure.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: FASTER Presumptions Act
Also known as: Fairly Assessing Service-related Toxic Exposure Residuals Presumptions Act
Latest action (Jul 14, 2021): Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: House · Introduced: Apr 15, 2021
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.