Biden Signs Bill Meant to Help Military Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits

President Joe Biden on Aug. 10 signed legislation aimed at helping military veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits.

“The PACT Act is the least we can do for the countless men and women—many might be in this room for all I know—who suffered toxic exposure while serving the country,” Biden said in prepared remarks delivered from the White House before signing the legislation.

The bill’s full title is the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022.

The PACT Act was sponsored by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in the lower chamber and Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the top senators on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The legislation drew bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The House of Representatives passed it 342–88 in July and the Senate passed it 86–11 a week before Biden signed it.

The act expands eligibility for Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare for veterans who suffered toxic exposure, in part by establishing “a presumption” that veterans serving in certain locations during specific times were exposed to toxic substances, such as on or after Aug. 2, 1990, in Bahrain.

It also eliminates a requirement to prove exposure to the substances, which supporters of the bill say has meant many veterans who were exposed have not received government care.

Lawmakers have estimated it will impact over 3.5 million veterans, including veterans who have served after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“With the President’s signature, the PACT Act is finally across the finish line. For generations, toxic-exposed veterans have had to fight our government to get the health care and benefits that they need and have earned. Today, this fight is over,” Tester said in a statement.

“Today, we delivered on