Rep. Ruiz honors local veteran that passed away following long cancer battle

Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. honored local veteran Jennifer Kepner, of Cathedral City, who passed away last week after a long battle against pancreatic cancer.

The wife and mother of two children was 39 years old.

Ruiz delivered a speech on the House floor calling for action on behalf of Kepner and other veterans who blame open air burn pits that were used during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan for their illnesses.

News Channel 3’s John White brought you Kepner’s story in an I-Team investigation.

We updated the story after interviewing the producer of a documentary on the issue of burn pits.

Services are being planned for Sunday, Oct. 29, at Forest Lawn and Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City.