Senate passes veterans health bill after Republicans cave to pressure

The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation expanding lifesaving health care benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. The 86-11 vote came after Republicans agreed to lift their blockade of the popular bill, caving to pressure from more than 60 veterans groups — and comedian Jon Stewart — who had railed against Republicans for days outside the Capitol. Many of the veterans who had camped on the Senate steps, braving heat, humidity and thunderstorms, watched the vote from the gallery in the Senate chamber. The bill has already cleared the House and now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

"This critical legislation will start helping our veterans and their families that are currently fighting their own health battles due to toxic exposure from their military service on Day One of it being signed into law," said Jen Burch, 35, a retired Air Force staff sergeant who suffers from numerous ailments she believes was caused by exposure to burn pits and open sewage ponds in Afghanistan. With the passage of the PACT Act, "veterans across America can breathe a sigh of relief," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor before walking outside the Capitol with Veterans Affairs Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., to thank the vets for their advocacy. "The treatment that they have deserved and have needed but have been denied because of the VA, because of all sorts of legal barriers and presumptions, will now be gone. "Veterans who were exposed to the toxic fumes of burn pits will be treated by the VA like they should have been from the very beginning," Schumer added.