Marine Cpl. Nicholas James Wrobel passed away due to respiratory and cardiac failure. He was 24 years old. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jessica Sweet died of acute myelogenous leukemia. She was 30 years old and left behind a husband and three young children. Army Col. David McCracken lost his life to Glioblastoma Multiforme brain cancer at age 46, leaving behind his wife and children.

All were exposed to the toxic fumes and chemicals released by burn pits while deployed.

While over 175,000 veterans have voluntarily registered their names in the Burn Pit Registry, the Department of Veterans Affairs has admitted there are 3.7 million service members who may be eligible due to their exposure to these same toxic burn pits.

As a soldier in the Hawai’i Army National Guard, I deployed twice to the Middle East. Like everyone else in our camp, I breathed in the toxins from burn pits every single day. Many service members developed respiratory illnesses that we commonly called "the crud" — a persistent hacking cough that never seemed to go away. While deployed, we dealt with the ever-present residual stench from the burn pit fires.

Burn pits have been used at U.S. military bases across the Middle East to burn trash, human waste, petroleum, rubber, and other debris, releasing hazardous smoke into the air. While initially thought of as a temporary measure until incinerators were installed, many burn pits continued to operate, with some still in use today.

Make no mistake: Burn pits are the Agent Orange of our generation of veterans.

After coming home, many of our friends started to come down with rare cancers, lung diseases, neurological disorders, respiratory problems, and more. Too many have died without their service-connected illness being acknowledged.

More and more we hear of families whose loved ones returned from war only to be lost to the residual effects of burn pit exposure, many having lost the fight to get the care and support they needed from the VA.

Our government must take action to recognize the toxins our service members have been exposed to during their service, research the effects, and provide the care they need. Otherwise, we will see a repetition of the same tragedy that our Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange decades ago went through.

So far, the VA has rejected most disability compensation claims. This is unacceptable.

Earlier this year, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and I joined forces and reintroduced our legislation, the Burn Pits Accountability Act. This legislation has over 170 co-sponsors and the support of over 30 healthcare and veteran service organizations.

Groups like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Burn Pits 360 are sounding the alarm. Last month, Burn Pits 360 brought affected military families to Capitol Hill. They were joined by physicians to share their stories and findings about the disastrous harm this crisis is doing to veterans.

When a patient seeks medical care, that care is improved when the physician has an accurate and detailed medical record of the patient. Our legislation requires the military to track and accurately report every service members’ exposure to burn pits as a necessary first step toward getting the treatment and care they need and deserve.

This will ensure that we have the data necessary to better understand burn pits’ impact and ensure the VA has the resources and knowledge it needs to best treat and compensate those affected.

Last year, I spoke with a Vietnam veteran in Hilo, Hawai‘i, who was dying from cancer. He struggled to speak to me in a whisper just days before he passed away, and he shared the struggles he endured as he fought to get the VA to recognize his exposure to Agent Orange so he could get the care he needed.

The last thing he said to me was, "You can’t help me, but promise me that you will help make sure no other veterans go through what I’ve gone through."

For him, and for every veteran, Congress must take action to honor and care for those who have sacrificed so much, putting service above self. Let’s honor their service and pass the Burn Pits Accountability Act now.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat, represents Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. Gabbard is a major in the Army National Guard and served two tours of duty in the Middle East. She sits on the House Committee on Armed Services. Gabbard is seeking the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination.