The PACT Act wouldn’t undo that damage, but it could help salve lingering effects. Ensminger looked on last week as senators debated the bill, which would provide health care benefits for members of the military exposed to toxins while serving. It would also permit Marines and their families who had been exposed to Camp Lejeune’s water to sue the federal government.

“American veterans have spent decades navigating a never-ending series of obstacles to get the care they need and earned, and we are thrilled that relief is finally on the way with President Biden signing the PACT Act into law,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO for IAVA.

Veterans benefits to be expanded as PACT Act heads to President Biden's desk

"So I strongly support the burn pit legislation, I think it was important legislation that provides needed care to our veterans who have stepped forward to defend our nation," Cruz said. "If you look at burn pits that were used in active combat theaters like Iraq or Afghanistan, we're seeing a great number of veterans coming back with serious health problems as a consequence of toxins being burnt in these open burn pits."

Military Times Deputy Editor Leo Shane talked about the passage of the PACT Act, which will expand health care benefits for veterans' exposed to toxins during their military service.

I served in the Marine Corps for nearly 25 years, training thousands of new recruits. I lived for almost 12 years at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where my daughter Janey was conceived and her mother unknowingly consumed water contaminated with known carcinogens — such as trichloroethylene, or TCE, and perchloroethylene, or PCE — during her pregnancy.

WKYT Investigates first reported in March 2021 on the efforts of Brian Amburgey of Winchester, who made it his mission to help his fellow veterans who, like him, served at the base and were exposed to the toxic water. He took part in protests, held signs to raise awareness and gathered signatures for a petition for a health registry. He made several trips to Washington, D.C. with other veterans to urge lawmakers to pass legislation to help.

The PACT Act will help veterans exposed to toxins. It includes The Camp Lejeune Justice Act which extends to veterans and their families exposed to toxins on base.

The PACT Act will help veterans exposed to toxins. It includes The Camp Lejeune Justice Act which extends to veterans and their families exposed to toxins on base.

President Joe Biden is set to sign the PACT act Monday.

The PACT act is a long-awaited bill that will expand Veteran Affairs healthcare benefits for those impacted by toxic military burn pits. The bill also contains benefits for water contamination victims at Camp Lejeune.

The bipartisan bill was passed last week

President Biden is expected to sign into law the Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act on Wednesday, which will expand access to VA health care and benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins during war.

Right before all this, Jon was being floated as a serious presidential nominee in 2024 ... an idea JS continues to shoot down -- but it's hard to argue his impassioned, vocal pressure didn't play a role in the Senate turnaround.

"History is being made by these leaders right here," said Rosie Torres, who cofounded the advocacy group Burn Pits 360 with her husband, former Army officer Le Roy Torres, and others more than a decade ago. "I want to recognize the veterans that didn’t go home, the ones that have walked the halls for 13 years. … We did it all for the fallen that are not here.”"

When elected officials need veterans’ votes, they’ll say anything to win us over. But when it comes down to us needing their vote — when our lives and livelihood depend on it — they fail us. Actions always speak louder than words.

When elected officials need veterans’ votes, they’ll say anything to win us over. But when it comes down to us needing their vote — when our lives and livelihood depend on it — they fail us. Actions always speak louder than words.

The effort to block the legislation caused an uproar among veterans groups, with critics arguing that aid for veterans was being held hostage over GOP opposition to another measure, the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes significant amount of money to combat climate change and lower health care costs.

Republicans said their opposition was tied to an argument over which portion of the federal budget would pay for $280 billion worth of funds for veteran health programs. But Democratic lawmakers contended that the about-face came just after Democrats reached an agreement of their own on a separate reconciliation bill.

"Ain't this a b---?" Stewart said in his remarks. "America's heroes, who fought in our wars, outside sweating their asses off battling all kinds of ailments while these mother f---- sit in the air conditioning, walled off from any of it." He added, "They don't have to hear, they don't have to see it, they don't have to understand that these are human beings."

“Democrats have always sought to find bipartisan common ground in service of our veterans, and it is a profound disappointment that Senate Republicans chose to play partisan games with the well-being of sick war heroes. Meanwhile, Democrats are focused on putting People Over Politics: protecting the health and lives of those who fought to protect us.

Daniels now believes that the deaths of her only children were not just acts of God. Instead, they may have a government cause — the toxic chemicals that for decades contaminated the Camp Lejeune military base’s water supply that she drank during her pregnancies.