Relates to establishing a hazardous substance exposure registry

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic4

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Scarcella-Spanton says this is needed

The problem of pollution and environmental contamination at domestic military bases has become so widespread that according to a 2008 report by the National Cancer Institute nearly 900 Superfund sites listed by the Environmental Protection Agency are military affiliated. All too often the hazardous substances at these facilities have terrible conse- quences for the health and wellbeing of service members, veterans and their family members who have lived, worked and served there. A number of military bases in New York have also been designated federal or state superfund sites including Griffiss Air Force Base Air Force Base, Plattsburg Air Force Base, Seneca Army Depot and Stewart Air National Guard Base. While there is currently no federal statutory or regulatory presumption of exposure or service-connected disability for serving at a superfund site, historically health registries for Agent Orange and Burn Pits have helped veterans affected by those exposures access care and benefits. This bill seeks to make an important first step in addressing the issue of toxic exposure at domestic military bases by establishing a health registry for those who lived, worked, or served at a military base in New York where hazardous exposures are known or likely to have occurred.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.