Working for Veterans' Benefits
Floor Speech
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Ms. OMAR. Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, we passed the PACT Act, one of the most consequential pieces of legislation to address the severe health problems that so many of our veterans who served our great country are facing. I thank my colleague, Congressman Mark Takano, for his leadership in getting this bill across the finish line.
This bill has made it easier for veterans and their families to get the relief and the care they deserve.
I have heard from so many Minnesotans on how life-changing this legislation has been, from Brian who lost his wife to pancreatic cancer to Andrew who lost his brother to leukemia and to Amanda whose husband Rafael was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and is now getting the treatment he deserves because of the PACT Act.
All of the family members and veterans I have met with know this bill could have been a game changer for them, their loved one, or just how crucial it is to help the next veteran.
Whether it was Agent Orange in Vietnam or exposure to toxic waters at Camp Lejeune or burn pits and other toxic exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a part of our military's history and legacy. I am glad we are finally addressing it in the most comprehensive way it deserves.
While I am grateful this program has been enacted to provide veterans and their loved ones with the care and benefits they have earned and deserve, only a small percentage of Minnesotans are taking advantage of this program. Less than 10,000 veterans out of more than 100,000 veterans in Minnesota who qualify under this program have enrolled. It is crucial that we continue to get the word out about this lifesaving program.
Mr. Speaker, to see if you or someone you know qualifies, please go to va.gov/pact.
I will not stop fighting until every one of my constituents who is eligible receives the care they deserve, and I will keep advocating for crucial reforms to stop future servicemen and -women from experiencing the same hardships, because when we ask young people to serve our country in uniform, we should not also be asking them to expose their bodies to toxins and to live with the consequences of those toxins for the rest of their lives.
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