Kenya Merritt Renewing our PACT Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a presumption that certain diseases were caused by work for civilian federal employees who were exposed to toxic burn pits overseas. This means workers would no longer need to prove a direct link between their illness and a specific exposure, making it much easier to qualify for workers' compensation.
• The bill covers employees from several major federal agencies who worked at least 30 days in a country or territory where the U.S. was running a contingency operation, going back to August 2, 1990 (the start of the Gulf War era).
• The list of diseases covered will match the one already used for military veterans under the VA's PACT Act framework. When the VA adds new diseases for veterans, the Department of Labor must add the same disease for civilian workers within 90 days.
• The bill was introduced with bipartisan support by Rep. Pou, Rep. Fitzpatrick, and Rep. Maloy. It applies only to new claims filed after the bill becomes law, so previously denied claims would not automatically be reopened.
• The Department of Labor must report to Congress within one year on its progress implementing the law, including how many people qualify as eligible employees under the new rules.