As US President Joe Biden rattled off policy proposals in this year's State of the Union address, he hit an emotional note when talking about veterans who suffer from cancer after serving on military bases where toxic smoke billowed from burning trash.
“One of those soldiers was my son Major Beau Biden,” he said. The president was careful to avoid drawing a direct line between the burn pits and his son's fatal cancer, but he left no doubt that he believes there was a connection.
The tragic death from seven years ago marks a ceremony on Wednesday, when Biden plans to sign legislation expanding federal health care for veterans, among the most personal moments for him since taking office.
Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., who chairs the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said Biden was a driving force behind the measure, which passed last week.
“He was continually pushing because whether Beau died of this or not, I think Joe thinks that it had some impact, and so he wanted this fixed,” Tester said. "And because he thinks it was the right thing to do. So different president, different set of priorities, this would have probably never happened.”
Burn pits were used in Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of chemicals, cans, tires, plastics, medical equipment, and human waste.
However, 70 per cent of disability claims involving exposure to the pits were denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.