Davids, Local Veterans Celebrate New Law to Expand Health Care Access for Toxic-Exposed Veterans

LENEXA, KS - Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined local veterans to celebrate the bipartisan passage of the Honoring our PACT Act, a Davids-supported law that expands Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) health care eligibility to 3.5 million American veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic airborne hazards while deployed. Signed into law last week, the legislation also authorizes $40 million in federal funding to expand outpatient services at the Kansas City VA Hospital.

"With the signing of the bipartisan PACT Act last week, millions of toxic-exposed veterans became eligible for the health care services they earned and deserve," said Davids. "Kansas veterans, including those in my own family, have put their health, safety, and lives on the line to serve our nation, and the least we can do is ensure they have the care they need through the VA when they get home. That's not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue; it's an American issue, and I'm glad Congress came together to get this done. I was honored to join with brave and gracious Kansas veterans today as we celebrate this accomplishment."

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Representative Sharice Davids with Kyle Prellberg, Kansas U.S. Army veteran, Jim Bunker, Disabled American Veterans, and Bruce Fischbach, Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"We at the VFW think the key parts of this legislation are twofold," said Bruce Fischbach, National Legislative Representative of Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). "First, the PACT Act is the largest expansion of veteran benefits since the creation of the VA. Second, this bill provides 23 presumptive conditions for rare respiratory diseases and cancers that too many of our brothers and sisters have succumbed to due to exposures to toxic substances in service. It also sets a framework for new conditions in the future, so that veterans tomorrow will not have to fight the way that past generations have."

"Simply put, the historic and bipartisan PACT Act of 2022 represents the largest expansion of VA care and benefits for those exposed to harmful substances during their military service," said Jim Bunker, Senior Vice Commander of Kansas Disabled American Veterans (DAV). "The thousands of Kansas veterans exposed to burn pits, radiation, and Agent Orange will have access to health care and benefits they have earned. We thank Representative Davids and Senator Moran, as well as their colleagues in Congress, for their leadership in turning the bill into law."

Today, Davids, whose mother served in the Army for 20 years, was joined by local representatives from the VWF and DAV, as well as Kyle Prellberg, a Kansas veteran wounded in Afghanistan. Prellberg was Davids' official guest at the 2020 State of the Union address after Davids' team corrected a clerical error, allowing Prellberg to receive a Purple Heart. In April, she appeared with Kansas City-area veterans and veterans' advocate Jon Stewart to urge passage of the critical legislation.

Throughout history, the United States military deployed burn pits in bases around the world to dispose of garbage, plastics, and medical waste. These pits released toxic emissions, and those exposed for prolonged periods of time could develop cancers, asthma, and other life-threatening respiratory illnesses. While data suggests 3.5 million military personnel may have been exposed after September 11, 2001, currently, many of those veterans must prove to VA that their illness is connected to their service and are subsequently turned down treatment. The Honoring our PACT Act removes that burden and expands coverage for toxic-exposed veterans. Specifically, it will:

• Expand VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans;
• Create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure;
• Add 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA's list of service presumptions, including hypertension;
• Expand presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure;
• Include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure;
• Strengthen federal research on toxic exposure;
• Improve the VA's resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and
• Set the VA and veterans up for success by investing in VA claims processing, the VA's workforce, and VA health care facilities.

Any veteran or survivor can learn more about the Honoring our PACT Act here. All veterans and survivors can apply for their benefits now. The VA will begin processing Honoring our PACT Act benefits for veterans and survivors on the earliest date possible, which is January 1st.