Senator Murray Votes to Pass the PACT Act, a Historic Extension of Health Benefits to Veterans and Clears Path for Tri-Cities Veterans Clinic

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, voted to pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act), sending it to the President’s desk. The PACT Act, which President Biden is expected to sign, will expand the toxic-exposure coverage for post-9/11 veterans and create a framework for coverage going forward. Last week, Senate Republicans blocked the PACT Act – a bill 25 of them previously voted to pass – as retaliation for Senate Democrats announcing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

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 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. 

“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.” said Senator Murray. “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.”

“Importantly, I’m glad I was able to secure $36 million in federal funding in this legislation to help build a new VA clinic in the Tri-Cities,” added Senator Murray. “I believe strongly that no veteran should be driving hours to get the care they’ve earned. Building a new VA clinic in the Tri-Cities is going to help reduce the strain on the VA in Walla Walla and really make a difference in the quality of care for our veterans right here in Central Washington.”

“It’s downright shameful that Senate Republicans blocked this from passing last week,” Senator Murray said. “Democrats voted to make sure veterans get the health care they’ve earned. Republicans did not. They decided to play political games at the expense of sick veterans – that’s wrong but I’m glad this bill is finally headed to the President’s desk.”

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. Senator Murray recently 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.

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