BOYLE VOTES TO HONOR NATION’S PROMISE TO TOXIC-EXPOSED VETERANS
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), voted for passage of H.R. 3967, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act --or Honoring our PACT Act, which will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans'; including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
"When we sent our servicemembers into harm's way, we made a promise that we would take care of them when they came home," said Congressman Boyle. "Today, I voted yes on the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act to keep my promise and ensure all veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service can access the care and benefits they've earned.
"I am a member of the bipartisan PFAS Task Force, and I have fought for remediation and justice for veterans and civilians in my district adversely impacted by military base caused groundwater contamination," Boyle added. "I am acutely aware of the duty and responsibility Congress has to correct these wrongs. The Honoring our PACT Act is one more step in that direction and is comprehensive legislation that we need to finally recognize military toxic exposure as a cost of war once and for all. Toxic-exposed veterans held up their end of the deal—it's time Congress did the same."
The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package that will open up healthcare to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service and finally concede 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 theatre at a particular time, they will be presumed to be exposed to toxic substances and therefore potentially eligible for healthcare 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.
Leaders from 11 Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) including 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, among others, support the comprehensive bipartisan package.