Senator Murray Applauds President Biden Signing the Honoring Our PACT Act into Law

Senator Murray: “We’re talking about the largest expansion in VA services and medical care for toxic-exposed veterans in over 30 years and I couldn’t be more proud to see this bill become law.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s signing of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act) into law. Before this legislation was signed, VA denied more than 70 percent of disability claims related to burn pit exposure because of veterans’ inability to prove their illnesses or cancers are linked to exposure to burn pits. The PACT Act would, among other things, expand the toxic-exposure coverage for post-9/11 veterans and create a framework for coverage going forward.

Senator Murray secured provisions in the PACT Act for $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 VA Medical Center 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. 

“For too long, so many toxic-exposed veterans in Washington state and around the country have suffered from deadly cancers, respiratory diseases, and other chronic illnesses as a result of their service, yet have struggled to get the VA care they need,” said Senator Murray. “No one who served our country should face hurdles getting the care or medical treatment they need as a result of their service. Thanks to the PACT Act, generations of toxic-exposed veterans, including over 124,000 in Washington state, will have expanded access to the medical services they desperately need, and VA will have the resources to help process claims efficiently and better serve our vets. We’re talking about the largest expansion in VA services and medical care for toxic-exposed veterans in over 30 years and I couldn’t be more proud to see this bill become law.”

“I’m especially glad I was able to secure $36 million in federal dollars for a new VA clinic in the Tri-Cities and help make a real difference in the quality of care available to veterans in Central Washington,” continued Senator Murray. “This bill is important and meaningful progress in living up to our promise, and will ensure all of our vets—across all generations—get the very best VA has to offer.”

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

1. Expand VA health care eligibility to more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed Post-9/11 combat veterans;
2. Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
3. Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
4. Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
   1. Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
5. Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
6. Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
7. Set VA and veterans up for success by investing in:
   1. VA claims processing;
   2. VA’s workforce; and
   3. 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, voting last week to send the PACT Act to the President’s desk. In June, Senator Murray spoke on the Senate floor calling for swift passage of the PACT Act. In May, she introduced the Helping Heroes Act, new legislation to support the families of disabled veterans, including children who take on caregiving roles. Senator Murray is also a cosponsor of the BUILD for Veterans Act, which would help VA build new facilities that would better meet the needs of current and future veterans – including women veterans, veterans in need of long-term care and veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases.

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.

A one-pager on the bill can be found HERE.

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