Working for Veterans' Benefits

Floor Speech

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Mr. DELUZIO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding time.

I think we can all agree in this body that this country has a sacred obligation to care for those that wore the uniform, who served in peace or in war or both, and that starts with adequately funding and staffing the VA to make sure that those who have earned their benefits, who have earned their care, can receive them.

That is why the Honoring our PACT Act that the ranking member and so many others got through this Congress is such a big deal. It is why it is so powerful. It expands VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals across generations who have served, and it fulfills that sacred promise this country has made.

Veterans have long been exposed to some nasty stuff in service in Vietnam, the Gulf war, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places. My generation saw burn pit exposure in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. We now know how dangerous this exposure can be and is for folks; cancers and diseases.

The PACT Act meets this moment. It adds a presumption of service- related illnesses coming from that toxic exposure. It cuts through red tape that had been blocking too many veterans from the care they have earned.

We see the numbers. Over a million veterans and survivors have already had claims approved under the PACT Act. That is a big deal. It means those veterans and their families now have access to those benefits that are hard earned that their service ought to have guaranteed.

In this body we often have hot air, debates, all the rest. Here is some practical advice. Last year, we saw veterans have a deadline to submit their intent to file, and many did. That was to get backdated benefits back to when this bill passed the Congress in 2022.

Veterans and survivors who submitted that intent to file need to submit an actual claim as soon as possible if they have not yet done that. That is to ensure they get the most out of the PACT Act for those benefits that they have earned. They have a year after submitting intent to file to submit their final claim forms to receive those backdated benefits.

Mr. Speaker, VA.gov is the website to do it, to get more information, check the status of your claim. My office and the office, I am sure, of every Member here is willing to help a veteran. Go see a VSO, a veteran service organization, an accredited claims agent, an attorney. You can find some help.

I remind my fellow veterans of this: These are earned benefits. You have earned them through your service. Make sure that you are getting what you need to take care of yourself and your family.

The PACT Act is a big deal, but it is only going to be successful if we fund it, if we make sure every veteran in this country knows what they have earned, and we give the VA the resources they need to meet veterans' demands.

That is our task in this body. I will work with everyone here to get it done. I am proud of the work we have done in this Congress.

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