Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted in support of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (Honoring our PACT) Act of 2021, comprehensive legislation she cosponsored to expand and improve toxic-exposed veterans’ access to earned benefits and care.

“When the difficult decision is made to send our heroic servicemembers into harm’s way, we make a pact to care for them and for their loved ones. Yet, for too long, the federal government has failed to adequately respond to veterans’ claims of injuries and illnesses caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during their service,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “That changes with the Honoring our PACT Act, which will make good on our promise to address all of the issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans’ access to earned benefits and care. There’s no cost too high in upholding our end of the bargain to veterans and servicemembers who sacrifice so much each day.”

Specifically, the Honoring our PACT Act will:

• Provide Priority Group 6 health care for certain toxic exposed veterans;
• Provide extension of combat eligibility for health care from 5 to 10 years with a one-year open enrollment period for those veterans who missed their window;
• Streamline the VA’s review process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions;
• Recognize exposure to airborne hazards and burn pits based on locations and dates of service;
• Require medical exams/opinions for certain veterans with toxic exposure disability claims;
• Create a presumption of exposure to radiation for veterans who participated in cleanup
• activities in Palomares, Spain, and Enewetak Atoll;
• Establish a presumption of service connection for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers related to burn pits and airborne hazards exposure;
• Expand Agent Orange exposure to veterans who served in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia;
• Add hypertension and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance to the list of presumptions for Agent Orange exposure;
• Improve data collection between VA and the Department of Defense;
• Commission studies related to incidents of cancer among veterans, health trends of post-9/11 veterans and feasibility of providing healthcare to dependents of veterans;
• Require VA to provide standardized training to improve toxic exposure disability claims adjudications;
• Require the VA to conduct outreach and provide resources to toxic exposed veterans.

Passage of the legislation is supported by more than 40 Veterans Service Organizations, including Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Gold Star Wives of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Wounded Warrior Project.

"The DAV Department of Massachusetts thanks Rep. Trahan for meeting with our members, hearing our advocacy and supporting H.R. 3967 Honoring Our PACT Act,” said the Disabled American Veterans of Massachusetts. “Based on 15 individual bipartisan bills, this is the most comprehensive toxic exposure bill ever considered in Congress.  Many Massachusetts residents are among the estimated 3.5 million veterans nationwide who have been exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and contaminated water while in service to our nation.  A significant number of these veterans are struggling without access to VA health care and benefits, and this legislation will address those issues right now.”

“The New England Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America is proud to support the PACT Act and grateful for the consistent leadership of Congresswoman Lori Trahan in advocating for veterans,” said PVA New England Chapter President Michael Negrete. “Veterans who are suffering from the results of military environmental hazard exposures will now get the care they deserve.”

In his first State of the Union address Tuesday evening, President Biden called on Congress to pass legislation to ensure veterans devastated by toxic exposures get the benefits and comprehensive health care they deserve — a critical mission that the Honoring our PACT Act accomplishes.

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