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achieving prosperity, dignity, and equality. All Equity
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Action Plans can be found on the White House’s
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea. website.
• Adenocarcinoma of the trachea.
• Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea. The VA laid out their plan to address inequities that
underserved veteran populations face. Underserved
• Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung. populations include veterans of color, women
• Large cell carcinoma of the lung. veterans, LGBTQI+ veterans, veterans with
• Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung. disabilities, rural veterans, and others who face
• Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung. persistent inequities.
• Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung.
The VA plans to use data to monitor whether health
A press release announcing the recent action says care and disability benefit outcomes are equitable
a focused review of scientific and medical evidence for underserved populations; improve access and
showed there was biological plausibility between outcomes across key programs and services by
airborne hazards and carcinogenesis of the completing three equity assessments; increase
respiratory tract and that the unique circumstances contracting opportunities for women-owned small
of these rare cancers warranted the presumption of businesses and small disadvantaged businesses;
service connection. VA will begin processing and support the inclusion of equity in quality
disability compensation claims for veterans who improvement and performance monitoring.
served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia Furthermore, the VA will build and maintain trust
theater of operations from August 2, 1990, to the with underserved veterans by conducting human-
present, or Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, or centered design research.
Djibouti beginning September 19, 2001, to the
present. Veterans who have or had one of the listed In addressing inequities impacting individuals with
cancers during or after military service may be disabilities, the Department of Health and Human
eligible for disability compensation benefits. VA Services plans to invest in resources and engage in
intends to contact impacted veterans and survivors efforts to enforce nondiscrimination practices in
to inform them about their eligibility and will provide health care.
information on how to apply.
The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing
WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES RELEASE airport screenings to ensure equitable service and
EQUITY ACTION PLANS expand access to TSA PreCheck for individuals
with disabilities.
On April 14, the White House launched a new
website with their plan to advance equity. The The Department of Transportation is engaging with
agenda includes simplifying applications for communities in decision-making to proactively
government services, such as reducing the review potential discrimination in proposed projects.
complexity of applications and forms; engaging with
stakeholders and communities who have been The Department of Interior is expanding access to
historically excluded from policy-making processes, the National Park System by improving
by making forums easier to attend; narrowing transportation within and access to parks and public
wealth gaps, by expanding job and grantmaking lands for individuals with disabilities.
opportunities for people with disabilities; and
collecting and reporting disability data. The Department of State appointed a Special
Advisor on International Disability Rights and is
In addition, more than 90 federal agencies released coordinating a global campaign to celebrate the
the first-ever Equity Action Plans to address barriers Americans with Disabilities Act.
in policies and programs that prevent underserved
communities, like people with disabilities, from The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability
