Three Bilirakis Provisions Pass the House as Part of NDAA

Washington, D.C. : Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) have a long and successful history of working together to prioritize the needs of our nation's heroes. In their latest collaboration, the bipartisan duo co-authored two provisions which passed the House of Representatives today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The first provision, the Department of Defense (DOD) Burn Pits Health Provider Training Act, implements mandatory training for all DOD medical providers on the potential health effects of burn pits. This legislative change will help ensure the early identification and treatment of health issues caused by burn pit exposure. The second provision, the Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, requires the DOD to provide Congress with an estimate of funding currently dedicated for incinerators and waste-to-energy disposal alternatives to burn pits. This is an important first step in stopping the use of burn pits.

"We still have a long way to go as it relates to ensuring Veterans exposed to burn pits have access to the care and benefits they have earned, and we must keep pushing our TEAM Act which will achieve that moral imperative. However, our two provisions that passed today are a huge step in the right direction," said Congressman Bilirakis. "Additionally, while I was disappointed that my efforts to address the issue of concurrent receipt were not accepted as part of NDAA, the overall package will strengthen our nation's military readiness and provide well-deserved increases for military families."

The NDAA also included a third provision authored by Congressman Bilirakis. The provision directs the U.S. to cooperate with Nigeria to help combat violence and human rights violations by Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations who persecute others on the basis of religion or ethnicity. "As Co-Chairman of the Congressional International Religious Freedom Caucus, I believe it is imperative that we draw attention to human rights' violations and work with our allies to eradicate religious persecution around the globe," offered Bilirakis.