The Veterans of Foreign Wars responded this weekend to a number of claims made by Republican senators for refusing to advance healthcare issues for veterans uncovered to deadly toxins at burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“When I heard the news about the failed PACT Act vote I was angered. (Wednesday), 25 senators who voted for the PACT Act last month changed their vote on the exact same bill,” VFW National Commander Tim Borland mentioned after the vote. “These 25 senators who broke their promise to veterans are risking more veterans getting sick and dying with every day this is delayed.”
The invoice is available in response to revelations relating to the well being of veterans who served in proximity to burn pits used at abroad army installations throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It additionally consists of language addressing Vietnam period veterans uncovered to the chemical dioxin through the herbicide often known as Agent Orange, and in nations outdoors of Vietnam.
The invoice is — or needs to be — a legislative layup for any politician aiming to challenge help for the troops.
It left the Senate in June with the help of 84 senators, and located equal favor within the House, the place a single sentence was eliminated earlier than it was despatched again to the higher chamber.
Suddenly, 25 Republicans modified their votes, citing $400 billion in added spending, modifications in funding construction and spending on non-veteran points as the explanations.
There’s only one factor: none of that occurred, in line with the VFW.
According to data shared by the VFW’s National Headquarters, the invoice sends 100% of funds spent to veteran’s healthcare, it noticed no change in funding construction from its passage in June, and the $400 billion quantity was an estimate offered by the Congressional Budget Office for the following ten years; not an precise appropriation determine.
“The only part of the bill that changed was the necessary technical removal of a single sentence. There were no additional sections added,” the veteran’s group wrote. “This bill is 100% dedicated to healthcare and benefits for toxic exposed veterans. Any inferences or accusations to the contrary are untrue.”
Retiring Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey was even provided an opportunity to amend the invoice, however declined if his modification was to be voted on.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has been sparring with comic Jon Stewart, a driving power behind the invoice, concerning the vote, claiming it’s a matter of “pork” spending and nothing to do with not supporting veterans who want healthcare.
“There is nothing in the bill that is not related to veterans spending, and don’t take my word for it, an asshole on an iPhone. Read it, it’s at congress.gov — this is for veterans who suffer health effects from burn pits and other toxins, that is it,” Stewart mentioned in response to a Cruz interview by TMZ, the place the one-time presidential hopeful claimed Democrats “played a budgetary trick.”
The VFW agrees with the comic, not the politician.
“The funding structure in the bill was supported by 84 senators in June,” they VFW mentioned. “That provision has not changed.”
The chief of the 1.5 million member veterans group is clearly displeased.
“Our team in D.C. is mobilizing our grassroots efforts to let these senators know the VFW will hold them accountable if they fail to honor their promise. We will not let the voices of veterans sick and dying from toxic exposure be ignored. Every veteran counts,” Borland mentioned.
Senate Majority chief Chuck Schumer mentioned he’ll convey the invoice to the ground once more Monday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”