Washington, D.C. – Representative Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-04) issued the following statement after voting in favor of S. 3373.  S. 3373 is the legislative vehicle for the text of H.R. 3967, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act), as amended by the Senate.

“The PACT Act allows veterans exposed to burn pits or other dangerous toxins during their service to our nation to receive the healthcare benefits they are entitled to through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),” said Congressman Gosar.  “I am proud to have voted to support this bipartisan legislation that provides much needed improvements to the access to care and benefits for generations of deserving veterans and their families throughout my district suffering from potentially deadly toxic exposure.”

Background on the PACT Act:

• Permits the VA to immediately provide presumptive benefits to survivors and those veterans who are terminally ill, homeless, over the age of 85, experiencing extreme financial hardship, or able to show another emergent need.
• Requires the VA to conduct outreach to any veteran who had previously filed a claim for benefits related to toxic exposure and were denied to ensure they are aware of the opportunity to refile.
• Codifies the scientific framework that the VA is already using to provide benefits to toxic exposed veterans, better reflecting current practice and improving transparency.
• Improves the VA’s ability to recruit and retain staff to ensure that the VA has the capacity to expand care and benefits to toxic-exposed veterans without disrupting services or causing longer wait times for care and compensation.