Sweeping Toxic Exposure Bill Passed by House
03/03/2022
The House voted 256-174 to pass what’s being called the Honoring Our PACT Act, a $208 billion measure that would pave the way for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for vets suffering from nearly two dozen illnesses suspected to be linked to battlefield pollutants. Thirty-four Republicans voted with Democrats in support of the bill. THIS LEGISLATION WILL NOW GO TO THE U S SENATE FOR A VOTE, ITS IMPERATIVE WE CONTACT SENATORS BROWN AND PORTMAN REQUESTING THEIR SUPPORT AND VOTE TO PASS HONORING our PACT ACT 2021. THIS BILL WILL CARE FOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND IN THE FUTURE.
The Honoring our PACT Act will:
- Provide Priority Group 6 health care for over 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans
- Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window.
- Streamline VA’s review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions
- Concede exposure to airborne hazards/burn pits based on locations & dates of service
- Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims
- Add hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure
- Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits/airborne hazards exposure
- Create a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll
- Allow for a new tort claim for veterans and families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune
- Expand agent orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
- Improve data collection between VA and the Department of Defense
- Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of Post 9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans
- Require VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications
- Require VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans
Ohio Congressmen Voted Against H R 3967 Honoring our Pact Act 2021
Balderson nay R
Chabot nay R
Gibbs nay R
Gonzales nay R
Jordan nay R
Latta nay R
Turner nay R
Wenstrup nay R
Ohio Congressmen and Congresswomen Voted for H R 3967 Honoring our Pact Act 2021
Beatty D yea
Brown D yea
Carey R yea
Davidson R yea
Johnson R yea
Joyce R yea
Kaptur D yea
Ryan D yea
HR 3967 Honoring our Pact Act 2121
Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2121