Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Bill to Fully Fund Veterans’ Benefits

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined six of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This bipartisan legislation would protect veterans’ earned benefits and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is able to continue to pay disability compensation, pension, and education benefits to veterans. The PACT Act is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.

“The brave men and women who have served in our military put themselves in harm’s way to defend our nation, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the highest quality health care for any illnesses linked to their military service,” said Senator Collins. “For far too long, veterans exposed to toxic substances such as Agent Orange and burn pits during their deployments have not received the recognition or resources they needed.  This comprehensive legislation puts us on the path to fulfilling the enormous debt we owe these veterans by expanding critical research on toxic exposure and providing relief to toxic-exposed veterans who may be experiencing serious illnesses and debilitating symptoms.”

This year, the VA has served more veterans than ever before and provided more care and benefits to veterans that were exposed to toxins during their time in the military since the original passage of the PACT Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and provided a record expansion of care and benefits for veterans.  As a result, more veterans are filing claims and receiving their long overdue earned benefits, including disability compensation and GI Bill benefits.

Without additional funding to mirror the increased number of claims received, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is at risk of leaving 7 million veterans and survivors without access to the benefits they have earned. Delaying this funding could postpone benefit payments from reaching veterans, caregivers, and survivors, requiring tough spending choices at the beginning of October, to avoid overdraft fees, or the potential of services being shut off.

“We have an obligation to ensure veterans, their eligible family members, and survivors receive the VA benefits they have earned. Congress must do everything in its power to fulfill the nation’s obligation to them. The Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act ensures VA has the necessary funds so that those who have born the battle will continue to receive their VA benefits on time,” said Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

“Recently, VA announced a budget shortfall that may have delayed the timely delivery of benefits to people nationwide. Veterans, family members, and caregivers have earned VA benefits through service. We are frustrated to hear VA may not have properly accounted for certain benefits through the end of the fiscal year. Each year Congress has provided VA with the resources it requested for veterans’ care and benefits. It is disappointing to learn VA has not requested enough money to properly fund VA care and benefits. We are grateful however that a bipartisan group of Senators led by Senators Brown, Murray, Tester, Sinema, Collins, Moran, and Boozman have stepped up to rectify this funding gap. The VFW commends these lawmakers for continuing to support veterans, families, and caregivers when needed,” said VFW National Legislative Director Pat Murray.

“DAV strongly supports the Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act to ensure that VA has sufficient funding so that no veteran will have their benefits delayed this fall. We than all the bipartisan Senate sponsors who worked together to bring this legislation forward so quickly and call on all members of the Senate and the House to support this urgent legislation,” said Randy Reese, DAV Washington Executive Director.

“Veterans should never have their financial security put at risk by late payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits they have earned. Wounded Warrior Project is proud to support the Veterans Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 to ensure that the Veterans Benefits Administration has the resources it needs to meet its obligations to veterans while leaders in Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs sort out the issues that underlie last week's budget shortfall announcement,” said Jose Ramos, Wounded Warrior Project Vice President for Government & Community Relations.

“Guaranteed delivery of the benefits our veterans and surviving family members earned through their sacrifices is something they should never have to doubt.  Honoring their service is one of the most sacred duties we have as a nation,” said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America. “MOAA thanks Senators Brown, Murray, Collins, Tester, Boozman, Sinema, and Moran for taking swift action in response to VA's request.”

In addition to Senator Collins, the PACT Act was introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Boozman (R-AR), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

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