Title VI — Improvement of Resources and Training Regarding Toxic-Exposed Veterans

Short Title.— This title may be cited as the “Fairly Assessing Service-related Toxic Exposure Residuals Presumptions Act of 2022” or the “FASTER Presumption Act of 2022”.

Definitions.— In this title, the terms “active military, naval, air, or space service”, “toxic exposure”, and “toxic-exposed veteran” have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 102.

Outreach.— The Secretary shall develop, with input from the community, an informative outreach program for veterans on illnesses that may be related to toxic exposures, including outreach with respect to benefits and support programs.

In General.— Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall incorporate a screening to help determine potential toxic exposures during active military, naval, air, or space service as part of a health care screening furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code, to improve understanding by the Department of toxic exposures while serving in the Armed Forces.

Timing.— The Secretary shall ensure that a veteran described in subsection (a) completes the screening required under such subsection not less frequently than once every five years.

Print Material.— In developing the screening established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that print materials complementary to such screening that outline related resources for veterans are available at each medical center of the Department to veterans who may not have access to the internet.

Screening Updates.— The Secretary shall consider updates to the content of the screening required under subsection (a) not less frequently than biennially to ensure the screening contains the most current information.

Health Care Personnel.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to health care personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs education and training to identify, treat, and assess the impact on veterans of illnesses related to toxic exposures and inform such personnel of how to ask for additional information from veterans regarding different toxic exposures.