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TREA Members, Throughout our history, Servicemembers have suffered exposures to dangerous toxic substances while performing their duties both in combat and in peacetime. Most recently, a generation of veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas experienced recurring and prolonged exposure to toxic fumes from burn pits and other environmental hazards. As a result, many of them have developed respiratory conditions, cancers, and other serious illnesses, and many have already died. Sadly, far too many continue to struggle to access health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) because they cannot prove their toxic injuries are connected to their service. As such, we are proud to join 50+ Veteran and Military Service Organizations urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. If enacted, this comprehensive legislation would finally correct this injustice by guaranteeing exposed veterans permanent access to VA care and establish a list of conditions that are presumed to be linked to exposures so that impacted veterans receive their full benefits. Additionally, this bill would provide justice for exposed Camp Lejeune veterans, expand long overdue Agent Orange presumptions, enhance VA research, training, and screening related to toxic exposures, and improve VA claims processing, workforce recruitment and retention, and infrastructure. In effort to get this historic legislation across the finish line, we ask that you please contact your Senators and urge them to vote "yea" on this bipartisan agreement as soon as possible. The time is now to correct this injustice for our servicemembers and veterans who suffer from toxic exposure related illnesses.
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