In an effort to showcase his legislative achievements this election year, Joe Biden visited New Hampshire on Tuesday to talk about his work for veterans who have suffered burn pit or other harmful exposures while serving their country.
The government reports that veterans and their families have received benefits totaling over $5.7 billion.
According to the administration’s announcement on Tuesday, almost one million veterans have had their claims approved since the so-called PACT Act was signed into law in August 2022 by Biden. Approximately 888,000 soldiers and survivors throughout all 50 states have become eligible for disability compensation as a result of this legislation.
Beau, Biden’s son and an Iraq War veteran, died of brain cancer; he had long promised to pass the PACT Act after blaming burn pits for his son’s illness. In military facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, burn pits were used for the disposal of chemicals, tires, plastics, medical equipment, and human waste.
While President Biden’s other legislative achievements, including the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the comprehensive tax, climate, and healthcare package, get more attention, the president’s investment in the PACT Act is closest to his heart.
Prior to the passage of this statute, the Department of Veterans Affairs dismissed 70% of disability claims involving burn pit exposure. Veterans are no longer required to provide evidence linking burn pits or other hazardous exposure to specific respiratory ailments or malignancies; the VA must now infer this relationship based on the legislation.
Biden visited a VFW post in Merrimack, New Hampshire, before delivering his prepared comments. Lisa Clark, a Vietnam War widow whose husband, Senior Master Sergeant Carl Clark, was exposed to the toxic pesticide Agent Orange, met with the president at the location. Clark is a veteran of the Air Force and is getting compensation via the PACT Act.
To celebrate the occasion, Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) thanked the soldiers who had fought for the legislation.
