Anonymous
Source: Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal
[Last week], Congressman Salud Carbajal joined President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of the landmark veterans’ health benefit bill, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which Carbajal co-sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.
The new law will open health care benefits to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service and finally consider exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards as a cost of war, addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans, including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“It was my privilege to join President Biden today, alongside veterans and my fellow lawmakers, to see the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in decades signed into law,”said Congressman Carbajal. “When our servicemembers embark on their missions to protect the United States, we make a promise that we will take care of them when they come home. But that promise has not been kept for some veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals and substances in the course of their duties. We owe it to toxic-exposed veterans to provide the care and benefits they’ve earned. As a veteran myself, I am proud to have co-sponsored this comprehensive legislation to finally recognize military toxic exposure as a cost of war and ensure we keep our promise to our veterans.”
Salud Carbajal with comedian and veterans’ activist Jon Stewart (center), who publicly advocated for the passage of the PACT Act, and Representatives DelBene and Levin at the White House for the signing of the landmark veterans’ health bill.
Salud Carbajal with comedian and veterans’ activist Jon Stewart (center), who publicly advocated for the passage of the PACT Act, and Representatives DelBene and Levin at the White House for the signing of the landmark veterans’ health bill
More Information for Veterans and Their Families
Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors can find more information on these new benefits by visiting VA.gov/PACT or by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at 1-800-MyVA411.
PACT Act benefits can be accessed by filing a claim at VA.gov. Veterans having difficulty with these or other claims with the VA can contact Congressman Carbajal by calling or writing to his office.
Background on the Honoring our PACT Act:
The Honoring our PACT Act concedes exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards by creating presumptions for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers, shifting the burden of proof off our veterans. If a veteran served in a particular theater at a particular time, they will be presumed to be exposed to toxic substances and therefore potentially eligible for healthcare and benefits.
The bipartisan legislation will also streamline VA’s presumption decision making process, so that Congress does not have to keep intervening, and our veterans don’t have to wait decades for help.
More information on the bill can be found here.
Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th congressional district, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and part of Ventura County. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Cosponsored almost entirely by Dems, passed despite Republicans whining that it “would cost too much.” Imagine being that unethical of a person, to put a pricetag on veterans with cancer that is less than 25% what tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations cost. Completely shameful. Dump and his minions can wrap themselves in the flag all they want. All the veterans I know pay attention and know they’re full of it.
Remember back when the GOP was the party of Law and Order and Veterans’ rights?
GOP “leadership” have completely lost their souls.
Now they are advocating for insurrectionists against uniformed police officers and other criminals over the FBI. I guess they only love the FBI when they are investigating “other” people.
Now they want to kill FBI agents. (as I’m sure you know) Adam Bies “posted a message reading, “I sincerely believe that if you work for the F.B.I., then you deserve to die.” On Aug. 12, he invited the “feds” to come get him. Mr. Bies was arrested and charged with threatening a federal law enforcement officer.”
Oh so a threat against an FBI agent triggers you but no problem brushing off an assignation attempt on the Supreme Court Justice? Many are getting real tired of this double standard where violence is acceptable and encouraged depending on the political ideology you support.
Quite the double standard Alex, unless you felt the same way about all the riots, attacks, and threats on police officers during the summer of 2020? Remember the violent rhetoric DNC “leadership” encouraged then (I can pull up plenty of youtube videos), but of course they’re haven’t lost their soles….. The assignation attempt on a Supreme Court Justice? Nope, not then either? We should be condemning ALL threats of violence, not waiting to see what the political motivation is first before deciding to support or condemn it.
Chillin, did you even bother to look up why many in the GOP opposed the bill as written, or did you just listen to the DNC talking head on TV say “GOP evil…no like veterans… GOP bad…”? The spending on veterans wasn’t the issue, it was the $400 BILLION (yes billion with a B) in unrelated spending it would authorize not attached in any way shape or form to assisting veterans. We are way past the time we should be passing single issue bills with out all the crap, pork, and pet projects the majority party feels like cramming into a what would be a bipartisan effort.
Vor: What’s pretty rich about this is that GOP congressmembers were previously in favor of it, now they’re throwing a temper tantrum to get revenge for the unrelated climate change bill. The $400 billion isn’t “unrelated” or a “blank check,” there are specific conditions to spend money in the Toxic Exposure Fund. You want a strong military? You want to take care of veterans? This is what it costs. Sorry they didn’t pass $2 trillion in loopholes and tax breaks for Dump’s golf buddies to buy another beach house. Some of us live in the real world and want to actually solve longterm problems.