New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter is lending her support to a bill that would help protect troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from the disposal of toxic waste in open air burn pits.
The bill would prohibit the disposal of the toxins in burn pits and ensure that the thousands of troops exposed to those elements receive proper medical care. Hundreds of troops have become sick from overexposure to the toxins.
The bill calls for a registry documenting the exposures in order to remove obstacles to accessing VA care benefits. It also pushes for a ban on the open-air burning of large quantities of plastics.
New York Congressman Tim Bishop is sponsoring the bill. Shea-Porter is the lead co-sponsor.