# 116-hr-5739: Blast Exposure Protection Act of 2020

116-hr-5739, Blast Exposure Protection Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5739
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5739
- Congress: 116
- Title: Blast Exposure Protection Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- Introduced: 2020-01-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 31
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Blast Exposure Protection Act of 2020 This bill establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for a veteran's injury or illness associated with a blast exposure during active military, naval, or air service in spite of there being no record of the injury or illness during a period of service. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases or disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.

## Cosponsors (31)

- Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- JOSE SERRANO (D-NY), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] (R-AS), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIOT ENGEL (D-NY), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- PETER KING (R-NY), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Resident Commissioner González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large] (R-PR), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2020-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2020-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2020-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2020-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (D-PA), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- WM. CLAY (D-MO), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large] (R-AK), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (R-IL), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (R-WI), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO-3] (R-CO), 2020-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-FL), 2020-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2020-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2020-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3] (R-MO), 2020-03-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2020-05-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2020-05-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020
- 116-hr-1379: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act
- 116-hr-748: CARES Act
- 116-hr-4104: Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-1044: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020

## Sources
- [116-hr-5739 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5739)

## Related
- [116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1570)
- [116-hr-1379: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1379)
- [116-hr-748: CARES Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-748)
- [116-hr-4104: Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4104)
- [116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1830)
- [116-hr-1044: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1044)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5739 (as of 2025-11-18).