Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) supported the Senate-amended Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act to expand and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s ability to provide care to 3.5 million U.S. veterans who were exposed to toxins during their time of service.
“The brave men and women of our military have defended our freedoms from some of the most dangerous global threats in memory, and many are suffering due to exposure to burn pits and other deadly toxins as a result. We must have the backs of U.S. veterans and their families who had ours and ensure they get the care they deserve when they return home,” said Kim. “The Senate-amended Honoring our PACT Act takes steps in the right direction to bring our VA up to speed with the 21st Century and provide lifesaving care to veterans exposed to burn pits and other dangerous toxins during the Global War on Terror and other wars. As a wife and sister to U.S. veterans, I will always be a loud voice for our veterans, servicemembers and military families.”
The Senate-amended Honoring our PACT Act would:
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Expands health care eligibility for veterans exposed to toxic substances based on participation in toxic exposure risk activity;
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Improves training options for VA claims processors and health care personnel;
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Directs the VA to make public health resources available for veterans exposed to toxic substances; and,
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Creates an interagency working group on toxic exposure research that includes the VA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services.
