Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted by 84-14 to pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act. The legislation includes the Senator’s Improving Benefits for Gulf War Veterans Act, which will expand access to essential benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf War and other wars in the region.
“Our veterans selflessly serve our country and valiantly defend our values abroad. Yet, when they return home are often met with unfair, bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to access treatments for illnesses resulting from that service. This long-overdue legislation will finally honor their many sacrifices by expanding health care and benefits for more than 3.5 million veterans.
“Whether from exposure to Agent Orange or toxic burn pits, our veterans should receive immediate and comprehensive care. That is why I fought tirelessly to ensure that not only those service members exposed to toxins in Iraq and Afghanistan are covered by this bill, but also our Persian Gulf War veterans – many of whom suffer from the Persian Gulf War Illness. With the passage of this bill, we are going beyond just words of recognition and appreciation. Instead, we are matching our words with concrete actions that will transform the lives of veterans in New Jersey and all across our great Nation.”