Senator Murray Hails Major Bipartisan Deal on Historic Toxic Exposure Legislation

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee leaders strike deal on legislative package to deliver comprehensive relief to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans for the first time in the nation’s history

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement praising the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive legislation to deliver all generations of toxic-exposed veterans their earned health care and benefits under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the first time in the nation’s history. The bill is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, who was deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He passed in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service.

“As the daughter of a WWII veteran, I know just how important it is that we fulfill our obligation to Washington state veterans. For  too long, so many of our veterans have suffered from underlying medical conditions caused by toxic exposures, while struggling to access the VA care and benefits they have earned—that’s unacceptable,” said Senator Murray. “With this bill, generations of toxic-exposed veterans will finally see a major breakthrough in their ability to get the critical services they need. As a country, we have an obligation to take care of our veterans long-after their service ends, and this legislation brings us a step closer in making sure we live up to that promise.”

Among its many priorities, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will:

• Expand VA health care eligibility to more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed Post-9/11 combat veterans;
• Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
• Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
• Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
  • Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
• Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
• Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
• Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
  • VA claims processing;
  • VA’s workforce; and
  • VA health care facilities.

As a voice for Washington state’s veterans in the Senate, Senator Murray has been consistently fighting to make sure our country fulfills its promise to our veterans and their families. Last week, she introduced the Helping Heroes Act, new legislation to support the families of disabled veterans, including children who take on caregiving roles. In February, Senator Murray helped to pass the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, increasing access to VA health care for post-9/11 combat veterans, particularly those suffering from diseases caused by toxic exposures. Senator Murray helped introduce the bill earlier in this year, and it passed the Senate unanimously.

Senator Murray has led the fight to ensure VA expands fertility treatment and adoption services for veterans and their families through her Veteran Families Health Services Act. She is pushing VA to prioritize the long-term care needs of all veterans—including women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, and veterans with disabilities. Murray has also authored legislation that will give veterans the tools they need to build real financial security into retirement.

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