MENENDEZ CALLS ON COLLEAGUES TO PASS SWEEPING LEGISLATION EXPANDING HEALTH CARE ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF VETERANS NATIONWIDE

Press Release

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today called on his Senate colleagues to pass major bipartisan legislation to expand health care and benefits to more than 3.5 million veterans across the country who were exposed to toxins while serving in the military. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, includes the Senator's Improving Benefits for Gulf War Veterans Act, which will expand access to essential benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and other wars in the region. The PACT Act will address illnesses from exposure to toxic burn pits and expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure. The Senator's provision's will also extend to veterans who served in wars in the Gulf and who have experienced unexplained chronic symptoms known as the "Gulf War Illness", which can include symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, memory loss, insomnia, and respiratory disorders. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins have been linked to these symptoms.

"For me, honoring our veterans goes beyond recognizing them for their service -- it's about living up to our commitment to serve those who so selflessly served us," said Sen. Menendez. "And when we dedicate ourselves to securing the benefits for those who have been exposed to toxic substances -- from Agent Orange to burn pits -- we are living up to this responsibility."

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The PACT Act would add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to the VA's list of service presumptions, including hypertension. The bill would also strengthen federal research on toxic exposure and improve the VA's resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans. It will also ensure veterans have adequate resources by investing in VA claims processing and health care facilities and boost the department's workforce.

This legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson who was deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service. The Senator held today's press conference at Flournoy Gethers VFW in Bayonne. He was joined by Mayor Jimmy Davis, VFW Commander Barry Jones and several local veterans.

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