Summary of H.R. 6376 (119th Congress, 1st Session)
Title: Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act
Status and Timeline
- Introduced in the House: December 3, 2025 (Ms. Brownley and Ms. Tlaib as cosponsors).
- Prior House action indicated: House read and passed the bill on May 29, 2025.
- Current status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (Dec. 3, 2025).
Purpose and Intent
- To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to certain non-veteran individuals—specifically family members and others who resided at or worked at locations where there is a presumption of service-connection for certain illnesses and conditions—based on exposure linked to service locations.
Key Provisions
1) New Health-Care Eligibility (38 U.S.C. § 1790)
- The bill adds a new section, § 1790, to VA’s health-care authorities.
- Eligible individuals (subsection (a)(2)) include:
- Those who resided at, worked at, or were in utero while their mother resided at, a location for which VA has established a presumption of service-connection for any illness or condition (under or pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38) for the required time period of the presumption; and
- Individuals who can demonstrate exposure to the same condition or conditions that qualify veterans for the presumption, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
- Eligible services: VA hospital care and medical services for a covered illness or condition.
2) Limitations and Protections (subsection (b))
- Funding: Care and services under § 1790 are provided only to the extent and in the amounts provided in advance by appropriations Acts.
- Causation standard: Care may be limited to illnesses/conditions for which the presumption exists; medical guidelines may determine that some conditions are not tied to the referenced locations.
- Third-party payment: Receipt of care or services by eligible individuals or providers must occur only after exhausting all reasonably available third-party remedies (including health-plan contracts) for payment.
3) Covered Illness or Condition (subsection (c))
- The term “covered illness or condition” aligns with conditions for which there is a presumption of service-connection based on service at the location, even if there is insufficient medical evidence linking the illness to residence/work at the location.
4) Administrative Update
- Clerical amendment: Adds a new item to the VA statutes’ table of sections to reflect the new § 1790.
5) Reporting Requirement (subsection (c))
- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report on:
- The number of individuals served under § 1790 (through 2026 onward to each report date);
- The illnesses/conditions treated and associated presumption locations;
- Denials and reasons for denial;
- Appellants awaiting eligibility decisions.
Impact and Affected Parties
- Directly Affected: Family members (including in utero exposure) and others who resided at or worked at locations with presumptions of service-connection for certain illnesses, who would become eligible for VA hospital care and medical services for those prespecified conditions.
- Veterans’ Benefits Context: Extends health-care eligibility beyond enrolled veterans to related individuals tied to presumptive locations, potentially expanding VA health-care demand.
- Government and Fiscal: Introduces new eligibility, subject to annual appropriations; adds reporting requirements to Congress.
Notes on Scope and Practicality
- The act links health-care access to presumptions already existing for veterans, but limits funding to appropriations and requires exhaustion of third-party remedies before VA payment.
- The definition of “covered illness or condition” follows VA-presumption criteria; the Secretary has latitude to determine which exposures and conditions qualify under the presumption guidelines.
- Affected stakeholders should monitor VA guidance on eligibility determinations and the annual appropriations framework for funding levels.
