Democrats Stand Up for Veterans!

(article originally appearing in our Newsletter for July 31, 2022)

Democrats Succeed in Passing the PACT Act for Veterans’ Healthcare

“As a nation . . . we have many obligations but only one truly sacred obligation: To equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they come home . . . that’s a truly sacred obligation . . . .”

          - President Joe Biden, upon signing the PACT Act for Veteran’s healthcare on August 10

The PACT Act (the “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022” bill) provides medical and mental health care for Veterans who were exposed to toxic substances (including open burn pits) during their military tours. These Veterans now are suffering significant and deadly health effects (including many cancers).

In June, the PACT Act passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 84 to 14 (24 votes beyond the 60 vote filibuster threshold). After passing the House, PACT had to go back to the Senate in late July to revote on a technical language error. So hopes were high and many Veterans and their families went to D.C. to celebrate passage.

Unfortunately, more than 25 Republican Senators inexplicably changed their votes to NO -- causing a 55 to 42 vote.

This mean-spirited action doomed passage of PACT under the filibuster rules. Veterans who nobly served our country and their families were crushed.

As one family member of a deceased Veteran commented about the Republican Senators who changed to refuse the bill:

"Every single one has pictures with veterans on their Facebook pages, on their websites. Well, screw that, they don't support veterans. If you won't vote on this bill, you do not support veterans."

To rub salt in the Veterans’ wounds, the Republican Senators publicly celebrated the cynical and cruel reversal of their vote on the Senate floor. (See this link.)

The Democrats did not give up after this Republican betrayal. After public reaction to their disgusting celebration at Veterans’ expense, the blowback for Senate Republicans changed their votes again -- ultimately voting to pass the bill 86 - 11.

This bill was signed into law by President Biden on August 10.  

(Note: The photo above is President Biden handing the signing pen to the young daughter of a soldier who died from toxic exposure.  Her mother and grandmother are also present. The President’s son Beau Biden died in 2015 at the age of 46 from brain cancer linked to toxic exposure during the Iraq war.)