Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents Palm Harbor and Dunedin in Congress, introduced legislation aimed at protecting U.S. servicemembers from toxic burn pit exposure overseas.

Bilirakis co-leads the Waste Incineration Protection, Exposure Oversight, and Updated Tracking of (WIPE OUT) Burn Pits Act with Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), according to a press release from Bilirakis's office published Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The bill builds on the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, signed into law in 2022. That law expanded care and benefits for veterans suffering from toxic exposure. More than 7 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposures under the PACT Act, according to the release.

For decades, the Department of Defense (DoD) relied on open-air burn pits to dispose of waste during overseas operations. The practice exposed servicemembers to toxins linked to respiratory disease, cancer and heart issues. While the Pentagon has largely phased out its own use of burn pits, many foreign partners and entities continue to operate them near installations where U.S. personnel live and work, the release stated.

What the bill would do

The WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act would:

  • Create a framework for identifying, tracking and reducing risks from non-DoD burn pits located near U.S. forces
  • Require the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the location and use of all nearby burn pits, including those run by allies, partners or local entities
  • Mandate deployment of alternative waste disposal systems where DoD operates burn pits
  • Direct the Secretaries of Defense and State to work with host nations on plans to wind down burn pit use near U.S. personnel

Exposure to toxic substances would also be recorded in each servicemember's health records under the bill.

"Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to defend our nation, and they should never have to face lifelong health consequences because of the toxic exposure they endured while serving," Bilirakis said in the release.

The bill has gained traction in Congress. Provisions were included in the Senate's Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate version would prioritize deploying alternative waste disposal systems and update DoD policy so non-DoD burn pits are recorded in servicemembers' health records. The House's FY27 NDAA report also incorporated elements of the legislation, including a requirement for DoD to brief Congress on exposure to non-DoD burn pits and a study of alternative waste disposal methods.

The bill is endorsed by Burn Pits 360, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), among others.

Tampa Bay veterans and servicemembers seeking help with VA-related casework can contact Bilirakis's office at 727-232-2921.