Rep. Calvert Votes to Provide Care and Benefits to Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits

Press Release

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives (342 to 88) to approve the PACT Act. The bill will connect veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other dangerous toxins in service to our country with the care and benefits they have earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"The bipartisan PACT Act will provide essential care and benefits to our veterans who were exposed to burn pits and dangerous toxins while serving our country," said Rep. Calvert. "The final version of this legislation has been improved thanks to bipartisan efforts and will help streamline benefits for eligible veterans. I will always uphold our commitment to care for those who have stepped forward to secure and defend our nation. To ensure our veterans and other healthcare and retirement programs continue to deliver the benefits Americans rely upon, Congress must engage in serious discussions to address our long-term fiscal challenges."

Background:

(Provided by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Minority Staff)

The PACT ACT:

Builds on the comprehensive framework VA has been piloting for the past year that streamlines benefits for future generations of veterans and survivors by establishing presumptions of service connection
Permits VA to immediately provide presumptive benefits to survivors and those veterans who are terminally ill, homeless, over the age of 85, experiencing extreme financial hardship, or able to show another emergent need
Requires VA to partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct toxic exposure studies with enhanced reporting requirements
Requires VA to conduct outreach to any veteran who had previously filed a claim for benefits related to toxic exposure and were denied to ensure they are aware of the opportunity to refile
Incorporates improved and enhanced toxic exposure screening for veterans who use VA care and improves VA's toxic exposure questionnaire
Expands VA's authority to partner with DOD, academic affiliates, and others to share space and improve services for veterans, servicemembers, and military families

Source