Working for Veterans' Benefits

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the veterans who have made great personal sacrifices to serve our country.

To all those who have donned the military uniform, on behalf of a grateful nation, I say thank you.

First, I would like to express my gratitude to Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and Ranking Member Mark Takano for holding this Special Order to honor our veterans. From burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan to Agent Orange in Vietnam, veterans exposed to toxic substances face challenges that impact their quality of life and long-term health.

We owe it to our veterans who have defended democracy and preserved our precious freedoms to deliver the benefits that they have earned and deserved. That is why Democrats passed and President Biden signed into law the PACT Act which represents the largest expansion of benefits and services for veterans exposed to toxins during their time in service in over 30 years.

To date, over 1 million PACT Act claims have been approved. People are receiving the care and benefits that they need and deserve. As an added success, the law has led to an increase in veterans accessing medical services from VA hospitals, crucially including a generation of Vietnam veterans. Additionally, the widows of veterans will receive compensation because of this law, fulfilling the Nation's duty of care to the families of veterans.

The PACT Act is making a difference for veterans in New York and across the country in accessing the benefits that they need to lead healthy lives.

Again, I say to our veterans: our Nation is forever indebted to you for your noble service. God bless you all.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source