Pfas-Exposed Veterans Need Healthcare Benefits

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the VET PFAS Act, legislation to ensure PFAS-exposed veterans get the healthcare benefits that they need through the Veterans Administration.

For decades, the Department of Defense has known that toxic PFAS chemicals cause serious health issues. Yet the VA continues to deny veterans, like Lieutenant Colonel Sauer, coverage for PFAS-related illnesses.

Lieutenant Sauer served in the Army for 22 years and was stationed at 10 bases with known PFAS contamination. Due to that exposure, he now has an uncertain and uncurable form of cancer.

Lieutenant Colonel Sauer is sick because of his service to this country, but he has been denied access to care from the VA. When Lieutenant Sauer joined the military, we promised to take care of him when he came home. Right now, we are not making good on that sacred promise.

There are thousands of veterans like Lieutenant Colonel Sauer who have been impacted by harmful PFAS chemicals. That is why I am calling for us to immediately take up the VET PFAS Act and keep the promise we made to the people who put on the uniform of this Nation.

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