Biden visits New Hampshire to detail impact of PACT Act on veterans affected by toxic exposure

• President Joe Biden is touring to New Hampshire to talk about the impact of the PACT Act, aimed toward aiding veterans uncovered to toxins.
• Since the legislation’s enactment in August 2022, over 1 million claims have been granted, benefiting round 888,000 veterans throughout the U.S.
• The complete advantages given underneath the PACT Act quantity to roughly $5.7 billion, in accordance to the administration’s knowledge.

President Joe Biden, intent on promoting his legislative accomplishments this election yr, will journey to New Hampshire on Tuesday to detail the impact of a legislation that helps veterans get key advantages in consequence of burn pit or different toxic exposure throughout their service.

In uncooked numbers, greater than 1 million claims have been granted to veterans since Biden signed the so-called PACT Act into legislation in August 2022, the administration mentioned Tuesday. That quantities to about 888,000 veterans and survivors in all 50 states who’ve been ready to obtain incapacity advantages underneath the legislation.

That totals about $5.7 billion in advantages given to veterans and their survivors, in accordance to the administration.

THOUSANDS OF US VETERANS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AS 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PACT ACT APPROACHES

“The president, I think, has believed now for too long, too many veterans who got sick serving and fighting for our country had to fight the VA for their care, too,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough instructed reporters on Monday.

The PACT Act is comparatively decrease profile in contrast to the president’s different legislative accomplishments — reminiscent of a bipartisan infrastructure legislation and a sweeping tax, local weather and well being care bundle — however it’s one that’s deeply private for Biden.

He has blamed burn pits for the brain cancer that killed his son Beau, who served in Iraq, and vowed repeatedly that he would get the PACT Act into legislation. Burn pits are the place chemical substances, tires, plastics, medical tools and human waste had been disposed of on navy bases and had been utilized in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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But earlier than the PACT Act grew to become legislation, the Department of Veterans Affairs denied 70% of incapacity claims that concerned burn pit exposure. Now, the legislation requires the VA to assume that sure respiratory diseases and cancers had been associated to burn pit or different toxic exposure with out the veterans having to show the hyperlink.