From July 14, 2022 post.
Last night, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted with a bipartisan majority of her colleagues to pass a compromise version of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which would ensure Iowa veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and toxic substances receive the medical treatment they deserve. The legislation will now head to the Senate, and is expected to be signed into law later this month.
The Honoring our PACT Act will provide access to VA health care to millions of veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances. It also directs the VA to presume veterans with certain conditions have been exposed to toxic substances, rather than forcing veterans to prove their exposure as the current process requires. Rep. Axne previously voted to pass the bill in March.
“Veterans living with toxic exposure served our country honorably, and it’s long past time that we return the favor and get these heroes the medical care that they deserve,” said Rep. Axne. “I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this legislation as soon as possible and send it to the President’s desk for signature. Lives are on the line.”
Specifically, the Honoring our PACT Act will:
- Expand VA healthcare eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
- Create a streamlined framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
- Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service-connected presumptive illnesses, including hypertension;
- Expand coverage for illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure;
- Include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
- Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
- Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
- Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
o Recruiting and retaining VA’s workforce; and
o Expanding VA’s healthcare infrastructure via leases.
A one-pager on the legislation can be found here.
Rep. Axne has long championed measures to support Iowa’s veterans in Congress. Rep. Axne introduced the Transition for Success Act, bipartisan legislation to provide skills training and employment assistance to members of the National Guard and Reserve, and the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act to expand access to higher education for veterans, which cleared the House floor in April. She also introduced the Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans’ Mental Health Act, which was signed into law last June to create more mental health resources for veterans living in rural areas.
Original source can be found here
