Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation to expand Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care eligibility to over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans:

“For too long, American veterans across generations have not received the much-needed care they have earned. The PACT Act is a historic investment to help ensure our veterans suffering from toxic exposure-related conditions have access to crucial health care and benefits. With Senate passage, we are one step closer to getting this done for the men and women who sacrificed their health to serve our country.”

Along with expanding VA eligibility to 23 toxic exposure and burn pit related conditions, the PACT Act would create a framework to establish future presumptions related to toxic exposure. This legislation would also expand presumptions for Agent Orange exposure in places like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam and American Samoa, strengthen federal research on toxic exposure, improve the VA’s ability to treat toxic exposed veterans, and help the VA boost capacity. 

More information is available HERE.