Washington, DC – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-R) voted in favor of S. 3373, the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, which will finally recognize military toxic exposure—from contaminated water at military bases, airborne hazards from burn pits, or radiation from atomic testing—as a cost of war and provide healthcare for potentially 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins. The legislation passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 342-88.

“I am committed to ensuring veterans injured in defense of our great nation receive the health care and benefits they earned,” said Bacon. “As a Commander, I saw young adults who had multiple tumors in their lungs likely triggered by toxic burn pits. While this bill is not perfect, it will expand health care and disability benefits to toxic-exposed veterans and equip the VA to take better care of them and their loved ones. Just as we provided care to 9/11 first responders who were exposed to similar, dangerous substances, it is only right that Congress expedites access to care so that our veterans are not waiting years for help.”

The Honoring our PACT Act is a comprehensive legislative package to connect toxic-exposed veterans, and their survivors, with the healthcare and benefits they earned. This means if a veteran served in a particular theatre at a particular time, they will now be presumed to have been exposed to toxic substances and therefore potentially eligible for healthcare and benefits.

“This version of the bill includes a technical correction to the Senate bill that passed recently,” added Bacon. “I hope the Senate will pass this bill and send it to the President for signature.”

A copy of the bill’s text may be found here.

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