Contact Congress about H.R. 5339: Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act
Some veterans who served at the Pentagon after 9/11 would have an easier path to VA disability benefits. The bill treats listed illnesses as service-related, even if the illness was not recorded during military service.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Latest action on H.R. 5339: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects veterans who were on active duty at the Pentagon Reservation in the weeks after 9/11. It could also affect the VA, because the agency would have to apply the new presumption when deciding disability claims. Civilian employees and contractors are not included in the bill’s covered group.
Why this matters: Veterans may struggle to prove that an illness came from toxic exposure many years ago. This bill would shift that burden for a specific group of Pentagon 9/11 veterans. It could make claims faster and easier for some veterans, but the bill does not say how many people would qualify or how much it would cost.
Key provisions in H.R. 5339
- The bill applies to veterans who were on active military, naval, air, or space service at the Pentagon Reservation. They must have been assigned there from September 11, 2001, through November 19, 2001.
- These covered veterans would get a helpful VA presumption for certain diseases. The VA would treat those diseases as caused or worsened by their Pentagon service during that time.
- The covered diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and tracheomalacia. They also include any cancer, any heart or blood vessel disease, any skin disease, and any respiratory disease.
- The VA Secretary could add more illnesses through regulations. The illness must have a positive link to a substance, chemical, or airborne hazard already named in VA toxic exposure law.
- The VA would use this rule when deciding disability claims for service-connected conditions. Existing law would still allow general limits on when presumptions apply.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5339
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 5339
- What is H.R. 5339?
- Some veterans who served at the Pentagon after 9/11 would have an easier path to VA disability benefits. The bill treats listed illnesses as service-related, even if the illness was not recorded during military service.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 5339?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 5339?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 5339 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
