Blumenthal Marks Two-Year Anniversary of the PACT Act

[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on the two-year anniversary of the signing of the PACT Act:

“Our victory two years ago, and the success of the PACT Act today, is a testament to the tireless work of veterans and advocates like the family of Connecticut’s own hero, Peter Antioho, who tragically died of cancer caused by burn pits. While the PACT Act came too late for so many veterans, I am proud to have fought for this historic legislation and I will keep fighting for veterans and their families.”

The PACT Act, which includes provisions championed by Blumenthal, was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022. Named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson who died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service, this law provides health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans; creates a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure; expands VA’s list of health conditions presumed to be caused by toxic exposures, which opens the door to additional benefits for veterans; and improves resources to support claims processing.

Provisions in the PACT Act championed by Blumenthal include expanded benefits, healthcare, and compensation to veteran populations that are not currently able to access services: veterans who responded to the nuclear disaster in Palomares, Spain, those who were deployed to the K2 Air Base, and veterans and families exposed to toxins in the water supply at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Two years later, more than 1.1 million toxic-exposed veterans and survivors are receiving PACT Act-related benefits, including 8,360 Connecticut residents. In addition, more than 156,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care under a PACT Act enrollment authority. VA has also screened more than 5.6 million for toxic exposure-related health conditions under the PACT Act.

For more information about how the PACT Act is helping Veterans and their survivors, visit VA’s PACT Act Dashboard. To apply for care or benefits today, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411. More information on eligibility can be found at VA.gov/PACT.

-30-