H.R. 8524

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8524 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8524

To amend title 5, United States Code, to improve access to workers' 
compensation for civilian Federal employees exposed to toxic burn pits, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 27, 2026

Ms. Pou (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Maloy) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to improve access to workers' 
compensation for civilian Federal employees exposed to toxic burn pits, 
and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Kenya Merritt Renewing our Promise 
to Address Chemical Toxicity Act of 2026'' or the ``Kenya Merritt 
Renewing our PACT Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. CERTAIN DISEASES DEEMED TO BE PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY EMPLOYMENT 
FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO TOXIC BURN PITS.

(a) Establishment of Presumption.--Subchapter I of chapter 81 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
8143b the following:
``Sec. 8143c. Employees exposed to burn pits and toxic hazards in 
foreign contingency operations
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Contingency operation.--The term `contingency 
operation' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of 
title 10.
``(2) Eligible employee.--The term `eligible employee' 
means an employee of the Department of Justice, the Department 
of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of the 
Treasury, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, or an element of 
the intelligence community, or a Federal law enforcement 
officer, who, on or after August 2, 1990, carried out the job 
responsibilities of that employee for not fewer than 30 total 
days in a country or territory while the United States was 
conducting a contingency operation in that country or 
territory.
``(3) Federal law enforcement officer.--The term `Federal 
law enforcement officer' has the meaning given to the term in 
section 2 of the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery 
Act of 2008 (34 U.S.C. 50301).
``(4) Intelligence community.--The term `intelligence 
community' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).
``(5) Open burn pit.--The term `open burn pit' has the 
meaning given the term in section 201(c) of the Dignified 
Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (38 
U.S.C. 527 note).
``(b) Presumption of Employment Connection for Certain Diseases 
Associated With Exposure to Burn Pits and Other Toxins.--For a claim 
under this subchapter of disability or death of an eligible employee, a 
disease specified on the list established under subsection (c), as 
updated under that subsection, shall be deemed to have been incurred in 
or aggravated during the employment of that eligible employee, 
notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease 
during the period of such employment.
``(c) List of Diseases Deemed Proximately Caused by Employment.--
``(1) Establishment of initial list.--There is established 
under this section a list of diseases that aligns with the 
diseases specified in section 1120(b) of title 38, including 
all diseases with respect to which the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs prescribed regulations in the manner described in 
paragraph (15) of such section 1120(b) before the date of 
enactment of this section.
``(2) Additions to list.--
``(A) Limitation.--On and after the date of 
enactment of this section, a disease may not be added 
to the list established under paragraph (1) unless the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs adds that disease to the 
list under section 1120(b) of title 38 pursuant to 
regulations described in paragraph (15) of such section 
1120(b).
``(B) Application.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
finalizes regulations described in subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary of Labor shall, by direct final rule, add 
the same disease to the list established under 
paragraph (1).
``(3) Maintenance by secretary of labor.--The Secretary of 
Labor shall maintain the list established and updated under 
this subsection.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter I of 
chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 8143b the following:

``8143c. Employees exposed to burn pits and toxic hazards in foreign 
contingency operations.''.
(c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
to a claim for compensation filed on or after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
(d) Report on Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of 
Representatives a report on the progress of implementing this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act, including the number of individuals 
who are eligible employees, as defined in section 8143c(a) of title 5, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section.
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