Rep. Stansbury Votes To Send Health Care Expansion For 3.5 Million Veterans

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass landmark legislation to expand health care access for veterans. The Honoring Our PACT Act, led by Chair Mark Takano (Calif.-41), provides healthcare for as many as 3.5 million veterans by expanding access to earned benefits and health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits. The Honoring our PACT Act now returns to the Senate to resolve procedural differences.

"We have an obligation to support our veterans and ensure they get quality care and compensation they deserve," said Rep. Stansbury."Today, I was proud to vote to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act to care for our veterans by providing expanded access to health care and disability benefits for veterans harmed by toxic exposures during their service to our country. This landmark legislation will finally address the full range of issues impacting veterans harmed by the burden of toxic exposures and I hope the Senate will pass this crucial legislation without delay."

The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package that expands health care and benefits access for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Under the provisions of this legislation, if a veteran served in a particular theatre at a particular time, they will be presumed to be exposed to toxic substances and therefore eligible for health care and benefits. Critically, this bipartisan legislation will also streamline the 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 will:

Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.
Streamline VA's review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions
Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service
Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims
Add hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure
Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure
Create a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll
Allow for a new tort claim for veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune
Expand Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
Improve data collection between VA and the Department of Defense
Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans
Require VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications
Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans

Source