This bill, named after Kenya Merritt, creates a new workers' compensation program for civilian federal employees who were exposed to toxic burn pits and other hazardous materials while working overseas during U.S. military operations. The legislation covers employees from multiple federal agencies including the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and others, as well as federal law enforcement officers, who worked in countries where the United States was conducting a contingency operation for at least 30 days on or after August 2, 1990. The bill establishes a list of diseases presumed to be caused by burn pit exposure, matching those already recognized for veterans under existing law, and automatically adds any new diseases that the Veterans Affairs Department recognizes in the future. The Secretary of Labor must submit a report to Congress within one year detailing implementation progress and the number of eligible employees who can benefit from the program.
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