Category: US Senate

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

“As the country continues to navigate the [monkeypox public health emergency], the United States public health system remains on the frontlines in identifying MPV cases, informing Americans about access to vaccines and therapeutics, and connecting our constituents to necessary medical care and resources.” 

Washington (August 10, 2022) –  Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined a group of his colleagues led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging the Senators to include critical funding to address the monkeypox (MPV)/orthopoxvirus Public Health Emergency (PHE) in any forthcoming legislative package in the 117^th Congress. 

“As of August 9, 2022, there have been over 9,492 confirmed MPV/orthopoxvirus cases in the United States from when the first case in the current outbreak was identified on May 18, 2022,” wrote the Senators. “The current outbreak in the United States is the largest in the world by case count in the current global outbreak—which has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization—and the largest in the nation’s history.” 

In their letter, the Senators spotlight that the United States public health system remains on the frontlines in identifying MPV cases, informing Americans about access to vaccines and therapeutics, and connecting constituents to necessary medical care and resources. Yet this system continues to be strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and underfunded. 

“MPV testing efforts are currently encountering processing and collection barriers that have led to underreporting of cases and poor data to aid the federal government in directing necessary resources in an appropriate manner,” they continued. “Additionally, as both a prophylaxis and treatment, acquiring and administering vaccines swiftly is crucial to stemming the spread of MPV and protecting all communities across the United States. Finally, clinics and providers are facing additional barriers in clinical services supplies, education for providers to properly identify MPV, vaccines, testing supplies, contact tracing, and community outreach to bolster our public health response to MPV, and ensure that accurate and adequate information is reaching our constituents.” 

This letter comes less than a month after Merkley led 22 colleagues on a separate letter sounding the alarm on MPV vaccine access inequities.  

Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) also joined the letter led by Senator Merkley. 

In reaction to the Senators’ letter, David C. Harvey, Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, said: “The nation’s sexual health clinics have been managing frontline testing, treatment, and vaccination for monkeypox without adequate resources, staffing, or supplies, blunting the impact of federal efforts to address the outbreak. The success of the national response hinges on whether these clinics get the resources they need to help patients access expanded testing, treatment, and vaccines.”  

Full text of the letter can be found here and follows below: 

Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell: 

We write today to express concern over the rising number of monkeypox virus (hereon referred to as MPV) cases in the United States, and to urge you to include funding to address this Public Health Emergency (PHE) in any forthcoming legislative package in the 117^th Congress. 

As of August 9, 2022, there have been over 9,492 confirmed MPV/orthopoxvirus cases in the United States from when the first case in the current outbreak was identified on May 18, 2022. The current outbreak in the United States is the largest in the world by case count in the current global outbreak—which has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization—and the largest in the nation’s history. As such, the outbreak was declared a national PHE by the Department of Health and Human Services on August 4, 2022. Nevertheless, we recognize that many experts have stated that the current number of cases is likely an undercount due to a gap in provider knowledge, limited access to information and testing, as well as social stigma that may increase reluctance to seek medical care. 

As the country continues to navigate the MPV PHE, the United States public health system remains on the frontlines in identifying MPV cases, informing Americans about access to vaccines and therapeutics, and connecting our constituents to necessary medical care and resources. A recent survey conducted by the National Coalition of STD Directors of more than 100 clinics nationwide—including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), reproductive and sexual health clinics, and primary care providers—demonstrates that our country’s health professionals have the willingness and expertise to play a central role in the MPV response, and are already being called upon to do so. However, these care providers are in dire need of additional resources to scale an appropriate response and prevent the spread of the virus.

MPV testing efforts are currently encountering processing and collection barriers that have led to underreporting of cases and poor data to aid the federal government in directing necessary resources in an appropriate manner. Additionally, as both a prophylaxis and treatment, acquiring and administering vaccines swiftly is crucial to stemming the spread of MPV and protecting all communities across the United States. Finally, clinics and providers are facing additional barriers in clinical services supplies, education for providers to properly identify MPV, vaccines, testing supplies, contact tracing, and community outreach to bolster our public health response to MPV, and ensure that accurate and adequate information is reaching our constituents. 

We appreciate the work that Senators Leahy, Murray, and Coons have undertaken to develop and introduce an emergency supplemental funding bill to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging disease that pose a significant threat to public health, and we ask you to include additional funding in any forthcoming legislative package to address the MPV PHE in our communities. 

Thank you for your attention and partnership in addressing this public health concern. 

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Last week, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced the Grant to Rapidly Invest and Deploy Broadband, or GRID Broadband Act, a pioneering proposal that would provide a robust new federal cost-share to spur investment in a nationwide middle mile backbone along the nation’s existing electricity grid.

The goal of this bipartisan initiative is to help provide affordable high-speed Internet options to the 120 million American households that lack connectivity and enhance the resiliency, diversity, and security of America’s electrical grid. This investment will create thousands of skilled jobs, while enhancing the capacity and resilience of our critical networks, reducing costs to providers and consumers, and setting the stage for sustained long-term economic growth.

“In order to accomplish our goal of bringing reliable, high-speed internet access to every West Virginia community, we need to continue bringing solutions to the table,” Senator Capito said. “The GRID Broadband Act would utilize our nation’s electric grid system to help build out and deploy broadband, especially in some of the most rural areas of West Virginia with little to no service. Closing the digital divide is a bipartisan priority, and I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Cantwell.”

“Building out fiber along our nation’s existing grid will provide the communications capacity needed to modernize our energy system, make our grid more cyber secure, and bring affordable high-speed internet to tens of millions of hard-to-reach households,” Senator Cantwell said. “It’s a triple win solution for consumers because it leverages existing rights-of-way and private sector ingenuity and investment to deliver cleaner electricity, stronger cybersecurity, and more accessible broadband services. Almost a century ago, the Rural Electrification Act helped bring power and productivity to every American home and business, now we can piggyback on that success by using the same network to also deliver the data and information America needs to prosper in this century.”

Accordingly, the GRID Broadband Act seeks to leverage these investments to create a triple win that will: 

1. Enable more diverse and distributed energy sources to connect to the grid,

2. Facilitate more cyber-secure communications capacity, and

3. Provide ubiquitous middle-mile capacity to drive down broadband costs nationwide and provide new options for underserved communities.

Under the GRID Broadband Act, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is charged with issuing competitive cost-shared federal grants to encourage the rapid development of a secure, nationwide broadband backbone on existing electric grid infrastructure. Recipients of GRID Broadband awards must use funding to improve cybersecurity and smart grid technology on their electrical grid infrastructure, as well as increase middle-mile broadband capacity. Grant recipients must cover at least half of project costs, except for a qualifying not-for profit utility or Native entity that is providing access to underserved or unserved communities.

View the GRID Broadband Act bill text HERE.

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Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that Concord University will receive $1,600,000, made available through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests she made.

Specifically, this funding will be used to support the renovation of existing facilities at Concord’s main campus to provide a permanent home for their new school of professional nursing. In total, Senator Capito secured $241,135,000 in direct spending measures for initiatives and projects across West Virginia through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations omnibus package.

“I’m confident that this funding will help support the efforts of Concord’s new nursing school when it comes to providing quality education, which ultimately trains our future healthcare workforce as we currently face a nursing shortage. This shortage is a major challenge to our health care system, and something I hear about frequently and have worked to address,” Senator Capito said. “I’m thrilled to deliver this support on behalf of all the hard-working administrators, staff, and students in Athens, and look forward to seeing the program make a positive impact on our communities.”

“For 150 years, Concord University has educated professionals to serve the needs of West Virginia and beyond. Expanding Concord’s degree offerings to help combat the nursing shortage our state and many others face would not be possible without the support of our representatives. Because of this funding, Concord University will be able to offer state-of-the-art facilities for our students to better prepare them for the demands of the health care field. Thank you, Senator Capito, for your continued support,” Dr. Kendra S. Boggess, President of Concord University, said.

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Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and his Senate Banking Committee Republican colleagues blasted the Federal Reserve (the Fed) after discovering it is in possession of documents that Banking Committee Republicans specifically requested six months ago.

Last week, it was revealed that the Fed does in fact have documents related to former Fed Governor Sarah Bloom Raskin’s involvement in helping secure a Fed master account for financial technology (fintech) company Reserve Trust. According to Bloomberg, on July 29, the Fed responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) and revealed that it has records relating to Ms. Raskin and Reserve Trust.

“These documents were directly relevant to our constitutional responsibility to evaluate Ms. Raskin’s nomination to serve as Fed Vice Chair for Supervision. They also are directly relevant to ongoing congressional oversight of the Fed’s approach to master account applications. The Fed’s failure to turn over these documents to the Committee, or even notify senators that they exist, has impeded the Senate’s ability to perform two of its core functions,” wrote the senators.

As the senators point out in the letter, the Federal Reserve not only failed to turn over a single document to the Committee, but it also failed to notify the Committee that it was in possession of such documents.

“While AAF has at least received an answer from the Fed, to this day, the Fed has not only failed to provide a single document to the Committee, but it has refused to even notify senators that such documents exist. The fact that the Fed has been more responsive to an outside non-profit group than it has to members of the Senate committee that directly oversees it is outrageous,” continued the senators.

Banking Republicans said the Federal Reserve’s lack of transparency and accountability to Congress further highlights the need to reform the Federal Reserve and the regional Federal Reserve banks to make them more transparent and accountable to Congress.

“Unfortunately, obstructionism has become too common a response from the Fed and regional Fed banks—which, after all, are creatures of Congress—to congressional oversight inquiries from members in both parties. In this case, the harm of that obstructionism was magnified because it also impeded the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to evaluate a presidential nomination. In light of this persistent refusal to comply with reasonable requests for information, we have no choice but to pursue legislation that will compel these public institutions to be more transparent and accountable to Congress,” concluded the senators.

Click here to read the letter.

Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

WARWICK, RI – After Congress passed the largest expansion of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in generations, President Joe Biden signed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act, and U.S. Senator Jack Reed, who helped pass the law, urged Rhode Island veterans impacted by toxic exposures to apply for VA health care and benefits, even if their previous application was rejected.

Reed, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Milcon-VA), noted that the new law expands health care access to over 3.5 million veterans and adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related health conditions to the VA’s list of presumptive conditions, including bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and numerous cancers and respiratory illnesses.  It also requires VA to provide free toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.

“The PACT Act is a victory for veterans and honors our promise to care for them.  Those Republicans who voted against this bill and delayed it tried to argue the PACT Act is too generous to veterans who served in combat and then came home and developed rare cancers and respiratory issues years later.  I think they’re wrong, and it’s clear that the vast majority of Americans want to ensure our veterans are properly cared for.  Frankly, this bill was long overdue,” said Reed.  “Veterans with these rare and often terminal medical conditions deserve our respect and access to the specialized care they need.  The PACT Act offers more than words of thanks, it’s a concrete commitment to fulfilling our moral obligation to care for veterans in need.  I appreciate President Biden swiftly signing it into law and I know the VA is working hard to assist our veterans.”

The PACT Act is estimated to cost more than $270 billion over the span of a decade.

Vietnam era, Gulf War era, and Post-9/11 era veterans are most likely to be impacted by the new law and could see new benefits that weren’t previously covered, and as many as 37,000 veterans across Rhode Island could benefit as a result of the PACT Act.

Veterans can immediately file PACT Act-related disability compensation claims by going to the VA’s PACT Act benefits page or by calling:  800-698-2411 (TTY: 711).

Reed pointed out that in addition to health care benefits, the new law also boosts toxic exposure research, invests in VA’s workforce to better serve new claimants, and improves toxic exposure-related education and training for VA personnel.

“The PACT Act will help increase our understanding of the connection between health consequences and exposure to toxins, whether it’s from burn pits or other types of exposure to chemicals and pollutants, and that has the potential to benefit Americans from all walks of life,” said Reed.

Over the last several decades, the U.S. military relied on open air burn pits in overseas combat settings to dispose of trash – potentially exposing millions of military personnel to toxic fumes.  As the name implies, burn pits are pits where all forms of waste, including toxic waste, are disposed of by burning.  U.S. service members lived and worked in close proximity to these burn pits, often without knowing the potential consequences to their long-term health or any way to avoid them.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized the harm burn pits can cause.  Senator Reed has been a leader in confronting the military’s use of open air burn pits, ensuring accountability at DoD, protecting the health of our men and women in uniform, and assisting veterans who were exposed to toxins.  He has also supported military funding for safer waste management alternatives such as closed systems and deployable alternatives to open air burn pits.

When Reed became Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he included language in the first national defense bill he wrote that would bar the military from using open burn pits in overseas operations.  As the bill moved through committee, it was amended so that the law now states that the only way that DoD can use a burn pit overseas is if the Secretary of Defense personally issues a waiver. 

Additionally, Senator Reed is an original cosponsor of S. 952, the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021.  This bill was the basis for the additional 23 presumptive conditions that were included in the final version of the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Includes Rosen-Backed Provision To Help Vietnam-Era Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded President Biden signing into law the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which Senator Rosen helped pass earlier this month. This law will extend Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and health care to all veterans suffering from illnesses as a result of exposure to burn pits and other toxins during their service. It also includes a Rosen-backed measure to specifically aid Vietnam-era veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Thailand.

“Millions of American veterans have been injured by and exposed to toxic chemicals as a result of their service to keep our country safe,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m so proud that this bipartisan legislation I helped pass is now signed into law so that veterans of all eras suffering from exposure to toxic chemicals can access the critical care and benefits they need and deserve.” 

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act will:

• Expand VA health care eligibility to all Post-9/11 veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
• Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
• Add 23 toxic exposure-related conditions to the VA’s list of service-connected presumptions;
• Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure and the locations where exposure may have occurred during the Vietnam War;
• Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
• Improve VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
• Set the VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing, the VA’s workforce, and VA health care facilities.

Senator Rosen is committed to fighting for our nation’s veterans and ensuring they have access to the care they deserve. Earlier this year, the Senate passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation Rosen-co-sponsored to expand Department of Veterans Affairs health care coverage for veterans. In the last two Congresses, Senator Rosen has also co-sponsored legislation to provide benefits to Vietnam-era veterans who served in Thailand, provisions of which are included in the package signed into law today. Senator Rosen has also introduced numerous bipartisan bills to support Nevada’s veterans, including legislation to invest in veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention efforts, help veterans start small businesses in underserved communities, and establish and improve Student Veterans Centers at colleges and universities.

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Source: United States Senator for Vermont Patrick Leahy

08.10.22

(WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022) — Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Representative Peter Welch (D) and state and local officials announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded Vermont three Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability And Equity (RAISE) grants totaling $34,624,624 for Fiscal Year 2022.  The grants will support three projects in Vermont: replacing the Winooski River Bridge; construction of the Federal Street Multi-Modal Connector in St. Albans; and a planning grant to improve public transit in Northwestern Vermont. 

Senator Leahy said:  “These projects will help improve the daily lives of tens of thousands Vermonters.  It will make their commutes easier and make the roads safer as well as more bike-friendly. The infrastructure law provides rural communities like those in Vermont with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild and repair their roads and bridges.  Without these RAISE funds, it would take years, if not decades, for the State and localities to secure the funds necessary to move forward with these proposals.  I am delighted that these projects received Federal support and funding from the Department of Transportation.”

Senator Sanders said: “It is good news that Vermont is receiving over $34 million for transportation projects statewide. Through upgrades to public transit, sidewalks, bike lanes, and our overall infrastructure, this funding will help Vermonters meet basic needs by improving their ability to travel to work and school, buy groceries, and access health care.”

Congressman Welch said:  “These grants will fund essential projects across Vermont to alleviate congestion and create new opportunities for folks to bike and walk. That’s good for our environment, our health, and the wellbeing of our communities. I’m grateful to the folks at VTrans, local officials and advocates, and my fellow members of the Vermont Congressional delegation, whose hard work has helped bring this critical funding to Vermont and move these important projects forward.”

Governor Phil Scott said: “RAISE grants play an important role in improving our state’s infrastructure and enhancing its resiliency. I want to thank Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders and Congressman Welch for their advocacy on behalf of Vermont and their strong partnerships with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. These significant grants will go a long way for our state.”

Vermont Secretary of Transportation Joe Flynn said: “The Vermont Agency of Transportation is excited to receive this RAISE grant for the replacement of the Winooski River Bridge between Winooski and Burlington. This grant will help to upgrade this critical connection, between two major cities, and provide much-needed multi-modal transportation infrastructure. We are grateful for our congressional delegation’s support of this project.”

Winooski City Manager Elaine Wang said: “Winooski is thrilled to have this opportunity to improve the safety of this very important structure for our region.”

St. Albans City Manager Dominic Cloud said: “This project has been over 20 years in the making. We’re delighted to have federal support to launch it from the drawing board onto the ground.”

Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Charlie Baker said: “We are thankful to the delegation and USDOT for supporting smart growth development in Vermont. This effort will provide housing and transportation options, address climate change, and improve equity in our communities.”

The RAISE grant for the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) will provide $24,800,000 to build the Winooski River Bridge, which connects the cities of Winooski and Burlington.  The project would replace the existing Main Street Bridge, which was built in 1929 and carries a daily average of 25,000 vehicles.  Currently, the narrow bridge is a major congestion point with inadequate sidewalks and no bike facilities.  The new, wider Winooski River Bridge would have barrier-separated, multi-use paths on both sides including bike lanes.  This new bridge will allow residents the choice of active, fuel-free, lower-cost and on-demand transportation, contributing to improved health and environmental outcomes.  

The RAISE grant for the City of St. Albans will provide $7,724,624 to build the Federal Street Multi-Modal Connector. This project includes constructing a new roadway to improve connections between the Federal Street corridor and Interstate 89, as well as upgrading existing streets and making necessary traffic and multi-modal improvements.  This regional transportation project has been in the planning stages for decades. 

The RAISE Planning grant for the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission will provide $2,100,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for transit-oriented development for 12 communities across a five-county region in Northwest Vermont: Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Rutland, and Washington Counties.  The project will also support plans for improved bus services and/or commuter rail in the five-county region.

The Vermont Congressional Delegation submitted letters of support for the VTrans’ RAISE Grant project and the City of St. Albans’ RAISE Grant project in April, 2022, which are available here and here.

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Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

08.10.22

Peters Helped Pass the Honoring Our PACT Act Into Law to Deliver Earned Health Care and Benefits to All Generations of Toxic-Exposed Veterans for the First Time in U.S. History

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today applauded the President signing into law historic bipartisan legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, to deliver all generations of toxic-exposed veterans the health care and benefits they earned for the first time in our nation’s history. Peters, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, helped pass the legislation in the Senate.

“We have a solemn obligation to ensure that veterans who have served our country and been exposed to toxic substances can receive the VA benefits and medical care that they’ve earned,” said Senator Peters, a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, son of a World War II veteran, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I was proud to help get this long overdue legislation across the finish line to finally ensure all generations of toxic-exposed veterans in Michigan and across the country can obtain the care they deserve.”

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act will for the first time ensure all generations of veterans exposed to toxic substances can access essential services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – including by:

• Expanding VA health care eligibility to post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
• Creating a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
• Adding 23 health conditions related to burn pit and toxic-exposure to the VA’s list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
• Expanding the list of locations officially recognized as being related to Agent Orange exposure from service (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll);
• Strengthening federal research on toxic exposure;
• Providing additional resources to ensure VA workforce and systems can withstand increased demand;
• Investing to improve VA claims processing, workforce, and health care facilities;
• Bolstering development of the VA’s workforce by increasing the limits of student loan repayment programs and streamlining the hiring process; and
• Allowing servicemembers and military families to seek financial compensation for injuries or illnesses they suffered as a result of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina—an issue that has impacted some Michiganders and is based on a bill Peters cosponsored, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022.

The legislation is supported by major Veterans Service Organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Wounded Warrior Project, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

“The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Michigan, is grateful to Senator Gary Peters for supporting the SFC Heath Robinson PACT Act of 2022,” said John Griffith, Army Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Michigan. “More than 3.5 Million veterans will have medical care and benefits related to their exposure to toxic substances while in service to our country.”

“Those who serve our nation in uniform put everything on the line to defend our freedom and values as Americans,” said Zaneta Adams, Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. “We all have a responsibility to ensure they have the support and resources they need after leaving the service. We thank Senator Peters for his continued efforts fighting for veterans and servicemembers across our state – including by helping to pass this consequential legislation into law to ensure veterans dealing with the harmful effects of toxic exposure can access the VA benefits they need.”

“The PACT Act is an historic bipartisan achievement,” said National Commander Paul E. Dillard, The American Legion. “The American Legion thanks not only those who voted for this legislation but the thousands of Legionnaires and advocates who worked to make this happen. We are grateful President Biden signed the Honoring Our PACT Act and that it is now law.”

“Our veterans have given so much to this nation and it has been far too long to get these men and women the help they need after sacrificing their health and well-being. Downriver for Veterans would like to extend our gratitude to the legislators who forwarded this much-needed bill and helped get it to the President’s desk to be signed into law,” said Ann Rudisill, Founder of Downriver for Veterans, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting veterans in Downriver Michigan communities.

“The Honoring Our PACT Act is one of the most historic and monumental pieces of legislation that we helped create,” said Rosie Torres, Executive Director of BurnPits360, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting servicemembers and veterans affected by burn pit exposure. “My family has lost 13 years away from our children. We’ve missed birthdays, movie nights, school field trips, and priceless moments we will never get back. Today is not only about legislation being passed into law, it is about closure and honoring the living and the fallen. Today is for the past generations and future generations of our nation’s war fighters. We walked the halls of Congress for 13 years many days feeling torn down by the bureaucratic inertia and a system of delay and deny but we never gave up. Goodbye to the days of misdiagnosing environmental injuries as psychosomatic or dismissing them as ‘compensation driven care seeking.’ Today our government, our leaders have finally acknowledged these injuries and disease as a direct result of Armed conflict caused by an instrumentality of war. Today we thank the leaders that have restored our faith and our lives.”

“I work with veterans every day in Macomb County who are struggling to obtain the benefits and care they earned while defending our nation in uniform,” said retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Laura Rios, Chief Veteran Services Officer for the Macomb County Veteran Services. “As a victim of toxic burn pit exposure through my own years in the service, I want to thank Senator Peters for helping to pass this vital legislation into law, which will be a saving grace to veterans across our state and country. It’s also clear that more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of the kinds of toxic exposure that many veterans are dealing with today, and this legislation will make meaningful strides to get us to where we need to be.”

“As someone who represents fellow veterans of the Vietnam War, and who personally deals with health complications as a result of Agent Orange exposure while serving – this effort is personal to me,” said Paul Palazzolo, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Detroit Chapter. “Thank you Senator Peters for your constant support for the veterans in our state and for helping to pass this consequential and long-overdue legislation into law to deliver veterans the care and benefits they earned.”

“The men and women that serve our nation in uniform deserve the utmost respect and unbridled support after leaving the service,” said Mel Bauman, Vice Commander of the Kent County Veterans Council and retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. “I applaud Senator Peters for his efforts to help pass this long overdue, commonsense bill into law, and provide veterans with the benefits they earned through service and unimaginable sacrifice.”

“Passing the PACT Act into law was critical to providing healthcare and benefits to millions of veterans, just like myself, exposed to harmful toxins, especially airborne particulates in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places we served around the world,” said Josh Galle, Associate Director & Accredited Veterans Service Officer, Marine Corps Combat Veteran OIF 05-07 & 06-08. “These toxic exposures have severely impacted our health and well-being. This bill is akin to the original agent orange act, establishing presumptive conditions from the Vietnam era. PACT will help ensure that today’s modern warriors receive the benefits and care they have earned.”

Peters is a strong advocate for Michigan’s servicemembers and veterans. Last year, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation’s veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI or other related conditions connected to their military service. As of the fall of 2020, more than 1,500 veterans have had their discharges upgraded since his legislation was enacted.

Last year, Peters’ bipartisan bill to strengthen transparency and communication for veterans and caregivers participating in the VA’s caregiver program was enacted into law. Also, Peters’ bipartisan legislation to expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans and allow them to use their GI bill benefits to secure a registered apprenticeship was signed into law in 2020. Peters also fought for and helped secure a measure in the national defense bill to expand the Department of Veterans’ Affairs list of medical conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.

Peters also introduced bipartisan legislation to protect veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their service. The Burn Pits Accountability Act would require that servicemembers be assessed for exposure to open toxic burn pits as part of their routine health exams, as this exposure has been known to lead to cancer, cardiovascular toxicity, reproductive issues and neurological damage for numerous Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans. Peters additionally passed out of the Senate his bipartisan CADETS Act to expand the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility age for financial assistance to cadets who attended one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation. In return for their commitment to serve, cadets can receive up to $32,000 in this incentive payment funding over four years to help offset the cost of tuition, uniforms, books, and living costs.

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