Manning Passes Legislation to Deliver Benefits and Health Care to Veterans Exposed to Toxins

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) voted to pass S. 3373, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 to treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting veterans exposed to toxins, including access to earned benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Exposure to toxins, including burn pit exposure and contaminated water at military bases, is a cost of war. It's past time we treat it as such," said Congresswoman Kathy Manning. "Veterans exposed to toxins experience serious health conditions but lack access to health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, I voted for the Honoring Our PACT Act so millions of toxic-exposed veterans can finally get the care they need and benefits they earned in service to our country."

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 is comprehensive legislation that seeks to address the issues impacting veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances and provide them with access to the benefits and care they earned through their service to our country.

Specifically, this bill 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.
Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
- VA claims processing,
- Recruiting and retaining VA's workforce, and
- Expanding VA's healthcare infrastructure via leases.

Congresswoman Manning voted to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act earlier this year through the House of Representatives. Following amendments from the Senate, the bill was sent back to the House for final passage. Now, the bill awaits President Biden's signature.

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