The act would impact state laws concerning how veteran health issues are tracked and reported. By enabling family members to contribute to the registry, the bill acknowledges the importance of recording the factors leading to veterans' deaths, which could potentially offer insights into the health consequences of exposure to environmental hazards such as burn pits. This could lead to more comprehensive data being available for future research and policy-making regarding veteran health care and services.
Summary
SB2078, known as the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act, aims to enhance the existing burn pit registry by allowing designated individuals and immediate family members of deceased registered individuals to update the registry with the cause of death. This change is intended to facilitate the process of recording vital health information related to exposures experienced by military personnel during their service, especially concerning the adverse effects of burn pits. The bill requires that, within 180 days of its enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs implement a procedure for updates to this registry.
Contention
While the bill is primarily designed to support veterans and their families, potential points of contention may arise from the administrative changes it imposes on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Some may argue about the feasibility of implementing these updates in a timely manner or the potential burden it could place on family members at a time of grief. Additionally, discussions may emerge around the adequacy of current records and whether the bill addresses all the necessary aspects of veterans' health care needs, particularly in relation to environmental exposures during military service.
Restoring Faith in Elections Act This bill establishes certain standards for voting, including voting by mail, in federal elections. It also establishes certain requirements for voter registration and maintenance of official lists of eligible voters. First, the bill establishes certain requirements for voting by mail in federal elections, including by requiring mail-in ballots to be received by the time the polls close on election day. Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful to possess or return a mail-in ballot completed by another person (commonly referred to as ballot harvesting), with exceptions. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both. Further, the bill establishes certain requirements for reporting results of federal elections, including by requiring states to count all eligible ballots within 24 hours after the election. Next, the bill provides for the automatic registration of eligible voters. The Election Assistance Commission must make grants to states to implement these automatic voter registration programs. It also requires states and jurisdictions to use standards that apply equally to all methods of voting used in federal elections, including standards related to signature verification. Finally, the bill establishes the National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse to serve as a database and clearinghouse for voter registration records and lists of eligible voters. Additionally, each state must certify that it has removed ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters prior to the federal election.