Military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan put their lives on the line every day. While troops understand that there are many dangers involved in a deployment, there is one threat that has nothing to do with fighting terrorism: burn pits. A burn pit is an area devoted to open-air burning of trash and has been a common way of disposing of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are now learning that burn pits could be this generation’s Agent Orange.

The fumes from burn pits are being attributed to major health issues among those who have been exposed, and it’s not hard to see why. The large pits in our camps were used to dispose of such items as tires, batteries, plastics, aerosol cans, human feces, animal carcasses, ammunition, electronics and metals. The fumes then move into the living areas of troops, and we are just beginning to learn about the consequences.

We need to learn more and make sure that those exposed can get the help they need and deserve. It’s why it is critical that Congress pass the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act. The bill would authorize the resources needed to study the pits’ health effects, track exposure, and start the process of helping our troops.

For me, this petition is personal. I served 8 years in the Marine Corps as a scout sniper, and was exposed to these carcinogens. There are reports of the fumes affecting skin, eyes, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract and internal organs. But just like with Agent Orange, the VA will not acknowledge a link between burn pit exposure and long-term health problems because of insufficient research. The Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act would help get the research needed so the VA could help those exposed.

When the dangers of Agent Orange first came to light, it took decades for the government to acknowledge the scope of the crisis, and to take action. I don’t want that to happen to another generation of troops. The first step is making sure the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act becomes law. We can only do that with your support.

Please sign this petition to help stop this problem before it becomes an epidemic. Once you sign, be sure to call your Congressional representative today and tell them to support the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act.