WASHINGTON D.C. (WBAP/KLIF News ) – North Texas veterans are reacting to President Joe Biden’s signing of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxic Act, or PACT Act, into law.
The legislation expands healthcare benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a signing ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, Biden spoke about the conditions veterans faced.
“Burn pits the size of football fields. An incinerator with the wastes of war such as tires, poisonous chemicals, jet fuels and so much more I won’t even mention,” he said.
The law is the end result of a long fought battle between Republicans and Democrats over how the legislation would be funded and who qualifies.
Last Wednesday, 41 Republican Senators blocked the seemingly a bipartisan bill but it ultimately passed. The fighting in Congress sparked days of protests in Washington D.C. and appearances from fervent celebrity supporters like comedian John Stewart.
Rob Genet is a Marine Veteran and said the journey to getting the law passed was bittersweet.
“I think its good that the law got passed but it’s a little bit discouraging as veterans to see how much infighting goes on between both parties to get money approved to help war veterans but yet its very easy to send people to war,” he said. “We had to watch so many people argue and watch celebrities stick up for us to get the bill passed…I mean it’s a disgrace.”
Genet said the law is long overdue because the process to get treated for some service-related injuries is often difficult.
“While we’re in we’re told to kind of suck it up and take the injuries and inconveniences that we go through as service members…and when you get out it’s very hard to prove some of the things that you went through. I myself have service-related injuries that caused heart failure and kidney disease,” he said.
The law codifies 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits and lifts the burden of proof on veterans to receive those benefits. Other healthcare services related to veterans will be expanded as well.
Click here for a full break down of the PACT Act.
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