BURLINGTON, VT – Today, the nation celebrates the second anniversary the enactment of the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, a bill to deliver benefits and care to veterans impacted by toxic exposures from burn pits while serving, as well as their survivors. The PACT Act was championed by the Biden-Harris Administration, passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed by President Biden. To date, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has provided expanded benefits to more than 1 million veterans — including 1,401 Vermont veterans. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement: 

“Over the last two years, the PACT Act has been essential in creating pathways to care for America’s veterans, opening up care and benefits to veterans and survivors impacted by toxic burn pits. But there’s more we can—and must—do. The use of burn pits must end, and safer alternatives to burn pits must be a priority. I will keep pushing for legislation that makes that a reality. I will also continue the fight to expand eligibility for those who are currently excluded from PACT Act benefits, including veterans from Vermont and New Hampshire who served in Kosovo,” said Senator Welch. “On the second anniversary of this bipartisan legislation, we recommit to building on the PACT Act to ensure all veterans and their families receive the benefits they deserve.” 

Ahead of the anniversary of the bipartisan PACT Act, Senator Welch partnered with a bipartisan coalition to applaud the VA’s announcement of the recently-redesigned Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, which followed bipartisan, bicameral advocacy by Senators Welch and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02).

This Congress, Senator Welch led the Vermont and New Hampshire congressional delegations in sending a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis R. McDonough urging the VA to use authority granted under the PACT Act to make it easier for veterans stationed in Kosovo from 1999 onwards to access health care and disability benefits for conditions related to toxic substance exposure during their service.

Last year, a bipartisan amendment led by Sens. Welch, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) requiring the VA to conduct a review on mortality and toxic exposure data for veterans who served in Kosovo passed with bipartisan support in the Senate. Senator Welch is a cosponsor of the Burn Pit Registry Enhancement Act, Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act, and Toxic Exposure Education for Servicemembers Act, bills that build on the PACT Act to provide increased support for veterans exposed to burn pits, improve data collection on burn pit and toxic substance exposure, and help mitigate future toxic substance exposure for servicemembers. 

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