Care of Veterans With Service in Uzbekistan
Signed January 19, 2021·Donald Trump·86 FR 6833
Source
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Plain-language summary
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to consider designating veterans who served on active duty in Uzbekistan between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005, as having served in a theater of combat operations under federal law, which affects eligibility for certain veterans' benefits. Also directs the Secretary of Defense, within 365 days, to conduct a study on toxic exposure among service members deployed to the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan during that period, including identifying toxic substances and locations, assessing health consequences through an epidemiological study, and evaluating any causal link between the exposures and health effects. The Secretary of Defense must report findings to the President through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The order states it does not create enforceable legal rights and is to be implemented consistent with existing law and available funding.
Not written or reviewed by a person. Read the full order below for anything you intend to rely on.
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Claimed authority
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered
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The order, in full
Executive Order 13982 of January 19, 2021
Care of Veterans With Service in Uzbekistan
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall
consider whether to designate veterans who served on
active duty in Uzbekistan between October 1, 2001, and
December 31, 2005, as veterans who served on active
duty in a theater of combat operations pursuant to
section 1710(e)(1)(D) of title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 2. Within 365 days of the date of this order, the
Secretary of Defense shall conduct a rigorous study
investigating toxic exposure by members of the Armed
Forces deployed to the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base,
Uzbekistan (Air Base), between October 1, 2001, and
December 31, 2005. The Secretary of Defense shall
submit a report summarizing the findings of the study
to the President, through the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. The study shall include the following
elements:
(a) A detailed assessment of the conditions at the
Air Base between October 1, 2001, and December 31,
2005, including identification of any toxic substances
contaminating the Air Base during such period, the
exact locations of the toxic substances, the time
frames of exposure to the toxic substances, the service
members exposed to the toxic substances, and the
circumstances of such exposure.
(b) A rigorous epidemiological study of any health
consequences for members of the Armed Forces deployed
to the Air Base between October 1, 2001, and December
31, 2005. This study shall be of equivalent rigor to
studies used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to
make determinations regarding diseases subject to
presumptive service connections.
(c) An assessment of any causal link between
exposure to any toxic substances identified in
subsection (a) of this section and any health
consequences studied under subsection (b) of this
section.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
related to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner
consistent with applicable law and subject to the
availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 19, 2021.Reproduced from the Federal Register plain-text record, signed January 19, 2021. Typesetting artifacts are removed; no wording is changed.