A burn pit is a large area built to discard of the waste of war. They are harsh on the environment and even hazardous to people's health who breath the air around them. Countless Americans serving in the Middle East were exposed to the toxic dumps and when some of them returned back home, "they were not the same" as Pres. Biden said in a event in Utah Thursday.
Many impacted veterans of family members did not receive health coverage to overcome illnesses that they got as a direct result if this exposure. The VA wanted proof that a pre-existing condition did not cause the sickness. Cancer and lung disease could not wait for the built in red tape in the health industry to be removed and some who contracted the terminal illnesses died before the requirement for benefit eligibility changed. Fortunatley, the law changed via the PACT Act, expanding finacial assistance all the way back to people who were affected by Agent Orange.
"One year ago today, we met that sacred obligation when I signed -- after fighting so damn hard for the PACT Act -- to sign it into law. And I want to thank all the veterans organizations for helping make that happen, because it matters."
According to military.com during the anniversary of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT Act, the VA had received 843,448 claims under the legislation and enrolled 113,719 veterans in VA health care as a result of the law.
The PACT Act is one of the most significant laws ever signed to help veterans exposed to toxic materials and their -- help their families recover as well as receive compensation," Biden told the crowdd at George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in
Salt Lake City.
For PACT ACT assitance go to www.va.gov/pactact
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