Increase health care access for veterans exposed to toxic substances?
Summary: This bill would expand access to health care and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. This bill also increases the number of veterans with non-service-related disabilities who can receive health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This bill also calls for studies on veteran exposure to toxic exposures during military service.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (Democrat, California, District 41)
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Opponents say
• "The PACT Act would grant benefits for certain veterans with certain conditions with very little, if any, scientific basis while telling other veterans to wait for research. That would create a fundamental unfairness between the veterans with similar services and exposure history…The PACT Act would also flood [VA] with so many new mandates that the veterans already receiving care would possibly have to wait longer…[The PACT Act] costs more than $300 billion in new mandatory and discretionary offsets." Source: Rep. Michael Bost (Republican, Illinois, District 12)
Proponents say
• "We have a unique opportunity to honor the pact we make when we send our servicemembers into harm’s way. Together, by working with our Senate colleagues and the Biden Administration, we can make good on our promise to care for our servicemembers—and pay for that care—when they come home. This is the right thing to do, and I will do everything I can to turn this bipartisan legislation into law." Source: Rep. Mark Takano (Democrat, California, District 41)
