# 116-hr-8261: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020

116-hr-8261, Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA); status Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8261
- 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-8261
- Congress: 116
- Title: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2020-09-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 14
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020 This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to open burn pits (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other toxins by veterans who meet certain criteria. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions 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. The bill also makes disability or death from certain diseases due to service in support of a military operation for at least 15 days in a specified location compensable as a work injury.

## Cosponsors (14)

- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rose, Max [D-NY-11] (D-NY), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouda, Harley [D-CA-48] (D-CA), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2020-10-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act
- 116-hr-7642: Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act
- 116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act
- 116-hr-5141: Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019
- 116-hr-4104: Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-8261 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8261)

## Related
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [116-hr-7642: Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7642)
- [116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7092)
- [116-hr-5141: Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5141)
- [116-hr-4104: Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4104)
- [116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2420)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8261 (as of 2025-11-18).