Murray Helps Pass Historic Toxic Exposure Bill, Clears Path for Tri-Cities Veterans Clinic

Senator Murray secured provisions in the PACT Act to expand access to primary care, mental health services, and help establish a new VA clinic for Tri-Cities veterans

ICYMI: On the Senate Floor, Murray Calls for Bipartisan Bill on Veteran Toxic Exposure to Become Law – MORE HERE

Senator Murray: “With this bill, generations of toxic-exposed Washington state veterans will finally be able to get the high-quality care they need and have earned, and VA will get the resources needed to process claims efficiently and better serve our vets.”

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, legislation to expand the toxic-exposure coverage for post-9/11 veterans and create a framework for coverage going forward. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 84-14. The legislation will next go to conference with the House-passed Honoring our PACT Act of 2021 before being sent to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

Importantly, Senator Murray secured notable provisions to authorize and invest $36 million to lease a new VA clinic in the Tri-Cities area. This follows concerns raised by local veterans on the major challenges they have faced accessing the care and services they need. The provision would allow VA to replace and expand services currently offered through the Richland Outpatient Clinic to enhance outpatient services, close space gaps, and reduce strains on the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VAMC in Walla Walla. The facility would ensure veterans in the Tri-Cities region have greater access to primary, specialty, and mental health care. This new VA clinic would be critical to ensure patients can receive the health services they need from a VA provider closer to where they live, create jobs for more VA staff, and improve the level of care provided to veterans. 

“With this bill, generations of toxic-exposed Washington state veterans will finally be able to get the high-quality care they need and have earned, and VA will get the resources needed to process claims efficiently and better serve our vets. This is going to be a huge game-changer—especially for veterans in the Tri-Cities, many of who have had to drive long distances just to be seen by a provider,” said Senator Murray. “I have visited and met with VA staff in every part of Washington state, the doctors and nurses and everyone else working at our VA medical centers really care about this work and their mission, but they need us here in Congress to care just as much, and fight just as hard for their patients—our veterans. There’s a lot we need to do to really make sure the VA works for veterans, but passing the PACT Act will make a difference and save lives.”

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, Senator Murray spoke on the Senate floor calling for swift passage of the PACT Act. Last month, 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 servicemembers the tools they need to build real financial security into retirement.

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