Great news for Veterans as the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson, Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, passed through the United States Senate.
Despite going through delays and posturing to get there, on August 2, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the PACT Act 86-11, pushing the bill through after it was passed by the U.S. House earlier this summer. While the bill stalled after hitting a roadblock in the Senate in late July, the chamber wisely reversed course and finally got the bill approved with overwhelming bipartisan support to pass the bill which will now be sent to President Biden.
President Biden will almost assuredly sign the PACT Act into law, as he has been a vocal proponent of PACT, and often invokes his late son, Beau Biden, who was experienced burn pit exposure while stationed in the Persian Gulf with the Delaware Army National Guard.
According to the VA, this could be the largest expansion of healthcare and benefits for Veterans in the department’s history.
If you are a Veteran, what does this mean to you once the PACT Act is signed into law?
Here are some changes that the PACT Act provides to the VA’s current coverage:
- It expands eligibility to VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures, Veterans of the Vietnam War, Veterans of the Gulf War and Veterans of the post-9/11 era.
- It adds 20+ new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other potential toxic exposures.
- It also adds presumptive-exposure location for the infamous Agent Orange and radiation exposures.
- It requires the VA to provide toxic exposure screening to every Veteran in the VA healthcare system.
Veterans can now file a claim and apply for PACT Act benefits at the VA’s website.
For representation with your VA Service-Connected Compensation Claim, call Gustad Law Group. We are based in Washington State, and represent Veterans nationwide, with the experience, compassion, diligence and proven track record to fight for you.