WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following bipartisan, bicameral advocacy by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. The bipartisan coalition of Members have urged the VA to redesign the registry, and in June introduced the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry 2.0 Act, which directed the Secretary of the VA to report to Congress on the status and timeline of when the redesigned registry would be completed.  

“As a nation we’ve taken a historic step by expanding benefits and services to over 1.1 million veterans through the PACT Act – but we have an obligation to take the next steps and ensure we’re monitoring veterans’ exposure to airborne hazards and the health effects of those toxins. We’ve urged the VA to complete this redesigned registry for America’s veterans exposed to burn pits, and are encouraged to see this completed as requested in our bipartisan legislation,” said Welch, Murkowski, Ruiz, Bilirakis and Wenstrup.  

The redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (Burn Pit Research Registry) was planned to launch in October 2023 but progress on the new registry stalled.  

The new Burn Pit Research Registry will enhance veterans’ experience with documenting their exposure to airborne hazards during military service and tracking the health effects of toxic exposure. As outlined in the VA’s announcement, the registry will “now include more than 4.7 million Veterans and service members who meet participation criteria based on Department of Defense records.” 

Learn more from the VA here. 

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