Sinema discusses recent PFAS contamination of Luke Air Force Base during Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on toxic exposures
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema highlighted the recent PFAS contamination of Luke Air Force Base and examined with health experts the lifelong health consequences and experiences of veterans with toxic exposures during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing.
“Toxic exposure is an issue that requires this committee to take a retrospective and prospective view. We need to look back on our military operations and make amends where our veterans were harmed by toxic exposures,” said Sinema, member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Sinema asked the health experts what effective steps the U.S. Department of the Defense can take to ensure servicemembers and loved ones who have been exposed to PFAS do not suffer adverse health outcomes.
Sinema called for the committee to take a retrospective and prospective view to address toxic exposures for Arizona veterans, and stressed the need for the military to examine current practices, weigh how they use chemicals and burn puts, and do better to protect future generations of veterans from health impacts of toxic exposures.
In last year’s annual National Defense Authorization Act, Sinema secured increased coverage of agent orange exposure for Vietnam Veterans. Last Congress, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act—bipartisan legislation supported by Sinema that was signed to law—provides Blue Water Vietnam Veterans access to all of the benefits they have earned, including medical assistance related to Agent Orange exposure.
Arizonans affected by the PFAS contamination can contact their Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center—Public Affairs at 1-866-725-7617 or AFIMSC.PA.Workflow@us.af.mil.