Congresswoman Stansbury Votes to Expand Health Care Access for Veterans

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass landmark bipartisan legislation to fulfill the country's obligation to provide health care to veterans by treating toxic exposure as a cost of war. The Honoring Our PACT Act, led by Chair Mark Takano (Calif.-41),provides healthcare for as many as 3.5 million veterans by expanding access to earned benefits and health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans exposed to airborne hazards and burn pits.

"New Mexicans have a long and proud tradition of service," saidRep. Stansbury. "As highlighted by President Biden in the State of the Union, we have a responsibility to care for our veterans when they come home, but we haven't honored our end of this sacred obligation for veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals while serving our country. This legislation does just that by eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to the vital health care our veterans need. I am proud to support this legislation."

The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package that will open health care 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 health care and benefits. Critically, this bipartisan legislation will also streamline the 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.

The Honoring our PACT Act will:

Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.
Streamline VA's review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions
Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service
Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims
Add hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure
Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure
Create a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll
Allow for a new tort claim for veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune
Expand agent orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
Improve data collection between VA and the Department of Defense
Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans
Require VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications
Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans

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