02.25.20

Sullivan Receives Disabled American Veterans’ Legislator of the Year Award

DAV Identifies Sullivan’s Burn Pits Bill as a Top Legislative Priority

WASHINGTON, DC – Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a more than one million member veterans service organization (VSO), this week presented U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) with its 2020 Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year Award. Earlier today, Sullivan, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, heard from the DAV national leadership in a committee hearing on the organization’s legislative priorities for the coming year. DAV has identified the Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019, legislation introduced by Senators Sullivan and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), as one of the organization’s top legislative priorities. This year, DAV is also celebrating the centennial of its founding in 1920. 

“I want to congratulate Disabled American Veterans on 100 years of advocacy for generations of America’s veterans and their families,”said Senator Sullivan. “It is truly humbling to receive DAV’s legislative achievement award, and it underscores the strong, productive relationship my team and I have with this great organization. I particularly appreciate DAV’s endorsement of my Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act, a bipartisan, proactive proposal to remove an unreasonable obstacle to care facing many veterans who were exposed to burn pits during their service to our country.”

“On behalf of the more than one million members of Disabled American Veterans, I am pleased to present Senator Sullivan with DAV’s Outstanding Senate Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his exceptional advocacy and support for America’s wounded, injured and ill veterans, their families and survivors,” said DAV National Commander Stephen “Butch” Whitehead. “Senator Sullivan’s willingness to tackle key veterans issues, such as suicide, transitioning to civilian life, health care access for rural veterans and, in particular, his work alongside DAV to introduce legislation addressing toxic exposure from burn pits are greatly appreciated. We look forward to our continued partnership with Senator Sullivan on future legislative efforts that will enable veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.”

Senator Sullivan’s burn pits bill addresses a barrier currently preventing many veterans from getting U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for illnesses and diseases related to exposure to burn pits by recognizing and conceding a veteran’s exposure during deployed service. Notably, the bill would not automatically grant benefits or health care to veterans who served near a burn pit, nor would it create a presumption of service connection, like Agent Orange.

# # #