From August 2, 2022 post
Pappas’s VA Workforce Investment and Expansion Act included in bill passed by the Senate
Today, after Senate passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
"I'm pleased that this legislation has passed and that our veterans are now closer than ever to getting the treatment they need for exposure to toxic substances and burn pits, but it is absolutely shameful that this legislation wasn't passed last week when Senate Republicans blocked this bill to score political points," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "It is well past the time that we address the impacts of toxic exposure that have been endured by members of our military, and I am pleased we are one step closer to giving millions of veterans the help they deserve. I look forward to President Biden signing this bill, which includes my legislation to improve VA's workforce, as quickly as possible. Our commitment to our veterans and service members must never waver, and I am grateful for this bipartisan agreement that honors their service and sacrifice."
Congressman Pappas is an original cosponsor of the Honoring our PACT Act, and helped shape the package as a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. This bipartisan, comprehensive legislation would finally address toxic exposure as a cost of war.
The Senate-passed bill incorporates Pappas's VA Workforce Investment and Expansion Act, which would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce by enhancing VA hiring practices and incentives to better recruit and retain health care professionals and strengthen veteran access to quality VA health care.
Background:
The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package that will open up health care to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service and finally recognize exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards. It will create presumptions for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers, shifting the burden of proof off our veterans. This means that if a veteran served in a particular theater at a particular time, they will be presumed to be exposed to toxic substances and therefore potentially eligible for health care and benefits. Critically, this bipartisan legislation will also streamline VA's presumption decision-making process, so that Congress does not have to keep intervening, and our veterans don't have to wait decades for help.
The Honoring Our PACT Act has the support of eleven Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion (TAL), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Minority Veterans of America (MVA), and Burn Pits 360.
Issues: Health Care Veterans
