Bilirakis Introduces WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act

The bipartisan bill would require the military to track and report burn pits near U.S. troops, including those it does not operate.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Military

Bilirakis Introduces WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act

Live Poll

Should the military be required to report burn pit exposure to troops' health records?

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis introduced the WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act, which would require commanders to identify and report burn pits located within 4,000 meters of U.S. forces. Republican Sen. Mike Crapo and Democratic Sen. Peter Welch introduced a companion bipartisan bill in the Senate.

Why it matters

The Defense Department has cut back its own open-air burn pits, but allies, host nations and local entities still operate them near U.S. troops. The bill would place exposure data into the health records of potentially exposed service members.

The bill sets a 4,000-meter reporting threshold and a 90-day deadline for the Pentagon to report burn pit sites to Congress after enactment. Its Senate version is included in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, but whether it will become law has not been determined.

The players

Gus Bilirakis

Bilirakis is a Republican U.S. representative from Florida who has served 14 years on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and represents Palm Harbor.

Mike Crapo

Crapo is a Republican U.S. senator from Idaho who co-introduced the bipartisan Senate version of the burn pits bill.

Peter Welch

Welch is a Democratic U.S. senator from Vermont who co-introduced the bipartisan Senate version of the burn pits bill.

The details

The bill would require commanders to identify and report burn pits within 4,000 meters of U.S. forces, direct the Defense and State secretaries to press host nations to shut their pits down, and require alternative disposal systems where the military still burns waste. Bilirakis introduced it with Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz of California and Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York.

2022: The PACT Act expanded care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxins.
Ahead of Veterans Day (November 11, 2026): Bilirakis introduced the WIPE OUT Burn Pits Act.
Fiscal Year 2027: The Senate's National Defense Authorization Act includes the bill's health records provisions.
Within 90 days of enactment: The Pentagon would report burn pit sites to Congress.

Legislative Context

The bill builds on the 2022 PACT Act, which expanded care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxins and has led to more than 7 million veterans being screened for toxic exposure. Where the PACT Act addressed treatment and compensation after exposure, this bill targets prevention by requiring tracking of the burn pits that cause it.

If enacted, the bill would add burn pit exposure records to the health files of affected service members, which could matter for future veterans' benefit claims. The provisions would also require the Pentagon to report exposure sites to Congress within 90 days of enactment.

The takeaway

Burn pit exposure records placed in service members' health files could shape how future toxic-exposure claims are evaluated. Tracking exposure sites at the source may reduce the need for later compensation.