Call to Action

Join ROA's Minute Man Movement by persuading Congress to support the Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act.

Issue Background

On the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam introduced the Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act, legislation spearheaded by the Reserve Organization of America to close a longstanding gap in benefits for servicemembers who were at the Pentagon on 9/11 and compelled to return to duty in the days immediately afterward.

ROA launched its campaign Sept. 11, 2024, to establish a presumption of service connection for this group of veterans. Building on that effort, in February 2025 ROA Director of Legislation and Military Policy Matthew Schwartzman testified before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs urging Congress to act. At the hearing, Schwartzman highlighted the story of ROA life member, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Susan E. Lukas, now the namesake of the legislation.

Recognizing Lukas’ story as emblematic of countless others, Rep. Subramanyam pledged to act.

The Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act would simply extend PACT Act benefits to servicemembers who reported for duty at the Pentagon between Sept. 11 and Nov. 19, 2001, when the building was deemed clear of toxicants. These servicemembers are currently ineligible for presumption of service connection under the PACT Act or other programs afforded to first responders and others impacted by the attacks, including the World Trade Center Health Program.

With bipartisan support from Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va.; Bobby Scott, D-Va.; and Rob Wittman, R-Va., the Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act stands poised to finally bring recognition and care to those who answered the call when the nation needed them most.

ROA's testimony before the Committees on Veterans' Affairs

Rep. Subramanyam's floor remarks on the Susan E. Lukas 9/11 Servicemember Fairness Act

For contact: Matthew Schwartzman / mschwartzman@roa.org