Hoyer Statement on the One Year Anniversary of the PACT Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD), Chair of the Regional Leadership Council, released the following statement today marking one year since the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law:
“Today marks one year since President Joe Biden signed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law – the largest expansion of Veterans’ benefits in decades, impacting about one in every five Veterans. Thanks to this historic law, millions of Veterans who were exposed to dangerous toxins – from Agent Orange in Vietnam to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan – while serving in uniform will have greater access to the lifesaving care they deserve. For too long, our service members have put their lives at risk to defend our nation and returned home with a greater risk of cancer, respiratory diseases, and other harmful conditions because of these toxins. The PACT Act ensures that these courageous men and women won't have to navigate a web of red tape to receive treatment and other benefits. Just as our Veterans made a commitment to serve our nation, our nation has a responsibility to serve them long after they take off the uniform.
“I was pleased to bring the PACT Act to the House Floor as Majority Leader last Congress and to pass this legislation on a bipartisan basis. Now, I am proud to play a leading role in the implementation of this transformative law as Chair of the Regional Leadership Council. Earlier this Summer, the Regional Leadership Council met with VA Secretary Denis McDonough to discuss outreach efforts related to the PACT Act. Indeed, this law is already making a difference in the lives of numerous Veterans across the country. In the past year since the PACT Act's enactment, more than 660,000 Veterans have applied for PACT Act-related benefits, 4.1 million Veterans have received free toxic exposure screenings, more than 287,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care, over 350,000 Veterans have already received expanded benefits, and nearly 3.5 million Veterans are eligible for the benefits they earned through their service.
“The Regional Leadership Council and I are hard at work to ensure that eligible Veterans take advantage of these new PACT Act resources. There is no deadline to apply for benefits, and just this morning, the VA extended the deadline for Veterans and survivors to apply for PACT Act benefits backdated a full year, to this upcoming Monday, August 14. I encourage all our Veterans to visit VA.Gov/PACT to take advantage of all that the PACT Act has to offer.”