PACT Act Passes the Senate
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (the PACT act), which I discussed last week, as well as in February and May, has finally passed in the Senate, on August 2, 2022, and will go before the President to be signed into law. It is expected that the Act will be signed soon as President Biden has long stated that he believes his son Beau’s death from brain cancer was due to exposure from burn pits used during the Iraq War.
The PACT Act is a comprehensive legislation that addresses not just burn pit toxin exposed Veterans, but also adds presumptive conditions to herbicide exposed Veterans. The PACT Act would add 23 cancers and respiratory illnesses caused by exposure to burn pits to the list of conditions that would qualify veterans for VA benefits and health care. Additionally, it expands the list of locations where there is an acknowledged presence of herbicides, as well as a new presumptive condition.