Wounded Warrior Project Announced Formation of Toxic Exposures Coalition

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For thousands of service members who served in the post-9/11 generation, environmental and chemical hazard exposures have carried real and potential health risks. Service members and veterans seem to be suffering from uncommon illnesses or unusual early onset of more familiar diseases like cancer.  To combat this new trend, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has announced the formation of a new coalition dedicated to tracking and advocating for legislation related to harmful environmental exposures during military service. 

The Toxic Exposures in the American Military (TEAM) coalition will research currently available data to develop resources and advocate for additional exposure treatment for veterans and active duty service members. There are more than 165,000 veterans enrolled in the VA's Burn Pit Registry – all of whom served on or after 9/11 and were deployed to a base or station where open burn pits were used.

"We must do more to address the illnesses we are seeing in America's service members and veterans as a result of toxic exposures," said WWP CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. "Wounded Warrior Project is proud to be a member of this coalition alongside other veterans service organizations. We must honor the service and sacrifice of our nation's warriors by working with Congress to provide the necessary care and resources to help those suffering from this wound of war."

The organizations participating in this coalition are:

• Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA)
• American Veterans (AMVETS)
• Association of the U.S. Navy (AUSN)
• BurnPits 360
• California Communities Against Toxics (CCAT)
• Cease Fire Campaign
• Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (COAUSPHS)
• Dixon Center for Military and Veteran Services
• Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS)
• Fleet Reserve Association
• HunterSeven Foundation
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
• Life Aid Resilience Research Initiative 
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
• Military Veterans Advocacy
• National Veterans Legal Services Program
• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
• Stronghold Freedom Foundation
• Task Force Dagger Foundation
• The Enlisted Association (TREA)
• The Independence Fund
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
• United Soldiers and Sailors of America
• Veteran Families for Exposure Awareness
• Veteran Warriors
• Veterans and Families for Exposure Awareness (VFEA)
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
• Vets First
• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
• Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)

To date, a significant number of organizations have agreed to work together to develop and push for the passage of legislation this year.  Additionally, WWP has already committed nearly $400,000 in funds to address the needs associated with toxic exposure. The next toxic exposure working group meeting will take place at the WWP office in Washington D.C. on June 7 at 12:00pm EST. To learn more, and to see how WWP works with our nation's leaders to improve the lives of wounded veterans and their families, visit https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/news-coverage

About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers – helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project