Davids Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Provide Care for Toxin-Exposed Veterans

Press Release

Tonight, the Senate passed the Honoring our PACT Act, bipartisan legislation that expands Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care eligibility to 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins and airborne hazards while deployed. Last month, Representative Sharice Davids, whose mother served in the army for 20 years, voted to pass this bill, which authorizes $40,027,000 to expand outpatient services at the Kansas City, Missouri VA. In April, she appeared with Kansas City-area veterans and veterans' advocate Jon Stewart to urge passage of the critical legislation. It now goes to the President's desk to become law.

"It is about time we kept our promise of caring and supporting our veterans after they return home from service," said Davids. "This bill will save the lives of people who made the incredible sacrifice to keep us safe. I am grateful we could come together in a bipartisan manner to get this important legislation passed and look forward to the President signing it into law."

Specifically, the PACT Act will:

Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
Create a 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 presumptions, including hypertension;
Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
Includes 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; and
Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing, VA's workforce, and VA health care facilities.

Throughout our history, the United States military deployed burn pits in bases around the world to dispose of garbage, plastics, and medical waste. These pits released toxic emissions, and those exposed for prolonged periods of time could develop cancers, asthma, and other life-threatening respiratory illnesses. While data suggests 3.5 million military personnel may have been exposed after September 11, 2001, currently, many of those veterans must prove to VA that their illness is connected to their service and are subsequently turned down treatment. The PACT Act removes that burden and expands coverage for toxic-exposed veterans.

Davids, who joined her Kansas colleagues to urge support for the passage the PACT Act in the Senate, has shown veterans issues are a top legislative priority by:

Supporting the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which requires VA to increase disability compensation for veterans and their families to reflect the cost-of-living.
Voting to pass the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, which would implement a maternity care coordination program within VA.
Cosponsoring the Major Richard Star Act, which would allow more than 40,000 veterans injured in combat to collect concurrent retirement and disability benefits.

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