Bipartisan Lawmakers Unveil Bill for Civilian Burn Pit Compensation

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers unveiled a draft bill Thursday to provide workers' compensation to civilians, including law enforcement agents, for illnesses such as cancer linked to toxic burn pit exposure.

The Kenya Merritt Renewing Our Promise to Address Toxicity Act takes its name from FBI Special Agent Kenya Merritt, who died of lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during service in Iraq. The legislation would place civilian employees on equal legal footing with military service members and simplify access to benefits.

A 2022 law eased compensation approvals for military members exposed to burn pits on deployments. Civilians who served alongside troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, remain uncovered. They must prove a direct link between their illness and toxic chemical exposure when seeking workers' compensation from the U.S. Department of Labor.

If passed, the bill would establish a presumption that specific illnesses qualify as work-related for eligible federal employees exposed to burn pits in overseas operations. It would also match civilian safeguards to the Department of Veterans Affairs framework for service members.

"According to the Department of Labor investigators, every single civilian federal burn pit-related claim has been denied," said Democratic Rep. Nellie Pou of New Jersey, who is introducing the bill with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Celeste Maloy of Utah.

"That's an outrage. And it cannot stand," Pou added.

Lawmakers and the FBI Agents Association unveiled the bill on Capitol Hill during Police Week celebrations. The association is leading support for the measure.

Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, told reporters Thursday that the FBI backs the bill. She noted thousands of agents deployed overseas faced burn pit exposure over the past two decades.