We are proud to endorse the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act reintroduced this week by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and in the House by Representative Mike Bost (R-IL) which will expand health care eligibility and create a framework for establishing presumptive service connection for all military toxic exposures, now and in the future.

Of specific concern to the GO2 for Lung Cancer is the lung cancer risk among ground troops deployed during the Gulf Wars, whose exposures included asbestos, chromium, diesel exhaust, radon, crystalline silica, pesticides, pollutants and particulate matter from burn pits, oil well fires and the destruction of chemical weapons including sarin gas. While research focused on these veterans is urgently needed, given lung cancer’s long latency period; efforts should also be made to provide lung cancer screening before symptoms become evident; this is the only proven method to detect lung cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage.

GO2 for Lung Cancer’s commitment to Veterans is clear. We are a champion and a resource for Veterans who have a higher risk of lung cancer. We have formal partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve lung cancer care and outcomes for our military. We are a member of the Toxic Exposures in the American Military (TEAM) Coalition.

With the reintroduced TEAM Act, we continue to endorse improvements in the way the VA evaluates and provides care for all veterans suffering from conditions that may be associated with toxic exposures.

Read more in a press release from Senator Tillis.