POLITICS: US President Joe Biden met with US veterans, today, in Nashua, New Hampshire to announce the 1 Million PACT Act approving claims to benefit veterans in 50 states and territories. Signing the Seargent 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics in August 2022 PACT Act, President Biden has signed the act to advance the most significant services for veterans and families. By Michelle Crawford-Sapenter "America has one...truly sacred obligation...to prepare those we send into harm's way and to care for those when they come home. If they don't come home, care for their families." Biden stated that the plan has remained his as primary concern for 30 years. Today, President Joe Biden delivered as speech to members of the US military; veterans and the families of those whose lives were lost in service their country. President Biden commented in regard to the benefits of the PACT Act that provides services to vets and families for toxic for being exposed to toxicity during an enemy's chemical warfare attack. The President stated that, at the time his son Beau was awarded for his service in the US military, he was there in IOraq. Biden stated that he said to his son, "Now you're a field grade officer." Beau replied, "Dad, I have no delusions about who runs the Army, those folks with stripes on." According to the Biden report, the PACT Act honoring Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson is the effective healthcare pact provided to veterans and families in the last 30 years. Robinson served his country as a medic and during his service, the 39 year old vet was suffered by a fatal form of rare lung cancer. The PACT Act is designed to benefit all veterans across all generations among those who have sustained the impact of being exposed to toxic chemical warfare while serving the US at war. Today, the President indicates that more than 1 million PACT Act applications have been granted to more than 880,000 veterans and survivors across US 50 states and territories, now, receiving the benefit that will provide for countering their disabilities and losses. Troops sent into war are properly prepared to counter and respond to the health risks that remain a threat to service members. Among the historic healthcare benefits provided to veterans are: The Administration has helped veterans in every state and territory receive the services and care they deserve by the release new national and state-by-state data on PACT Act claims granted.
The Administration has helped veterans in every state and territory receive the services and care they deserve by:
Screening veterans for toxic exposures: More than 5.4 million veterans have received free screenings for toxic exposures from VA under the PACT Act – a critical step to catching and treating potentially life-threatening health conditions as early as possible.
Delivering benefits to veterans and their survivors: Since enactment, VA has delivered more than $5.7 billion in earned PACT Act-related benefits to veterans and their survivors. VA is delivering these benefits to veterans at the fastest rate in history, processing 1.57 million total claims thus far in this fiscal year – 28% more year-to-date than the previous all-time record. In total, VA has processed 1,327,228 PACT Act claims since August 10, 2022.
Prioritizing veterans with cancer: As a part of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, VA has prioritized claims processing for veterans with cancer – delivering nearly $637 million in PACT Act benefits to veterans with cancer. VA also prioritizes claims for veterans with terminal illnesses and veterans experiencing homelessness.
Spreading the word to veterans and their survivors: Thanks to the PACT Act outreach campaign, veterans and survivors are applying for their earned benefits at record rates. Since August 2022, veterans and survivors have submitted 4.17 million total claims. This includes 1,655,810 PACT Act-specific claims applications.
Increasing VA’s capacity to serve veterans: Thanks to new PACT Act authorities, VA has been able to expand its workforce in order to serve veterans as quickly and effectively as possible. In total, both the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits administration have achieved their highest growth rates in 20 years.
Eliminating benefits delays for veterans: Instead of phasing in conditions over several years (as outlined in the legislation), the Biden-Harris Administration decided to make all conditions in the PACT Act presumptive for benefits as of August 10, 2022, the day the bill was signed into law. This decision expedited the timeline for veterans to receive their earned care and benefits by several years.
Accelerating health care eligibility for veterans: As of March 2024, VA opened up eligibility for toxic exposed veterans to enroll in VA Health Care without first having to prove a service-connected disability and regardless of their deployment location, nearly ten years earlier than called for in the PACT Act. Thanks to new PACT Act eligibility, more than 145,000 veterans have newly enrolled in VA Health Care since August 10, 2022.
These historic efforts to address military toxic exposures build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent work to support our nation’s veterans, including:
Ending veteran homelessness. No one should be homeless in this country, especially not those who served it. That’s why President Biden is proposing a guaranteed voucher for extremely low-income veterans, a population at especially high risk of homelessness. Last year, VA found permanent housing for over 46,000 veterans, expanded access to health care for homeless Veterans, expanded access to legal assistance for homeless Veterans, helped more than 145,000 Veterans and their families retain their homes or otherwise avoid foreclosure, and awarded more than $1 billion in grant funding to help homeless Veterans. These efforts are leading to results: from 2020 to 2023, there was a nearly 5 percent decline in veteran homelessness. And, tomorrow, Dallas will announce that it has effectively ended veteran homelessness.
Securing jobs for our veterans. Roughly 200,000 service members transition from the military each year and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to providing them and their spouses the support they need to find good paying jobs. This includes helping connect veterans to registered apprentice programs, so they can transfer the skills they learned in the military.
Removing barriers to mental health care. Next week, VA will take action to remove all cost-sharing for the first three behavioral health visits for veterans enrolled in VA health care, helping to ensure that all those in need can get the care they need. This action builds on VA’s new policy allowing eligible veterans and certain former service members in acute suicidal crisis to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for no-cost emergency health care – over 50,000 veterans and service members have used this benefit since it launched in 2023. VA is doing everything it can, including expanding mental health screenings, increasing access to legal and financial support, and hiring more mental health professionals, to help veterans get the help they need. For veterans and family members who may be experiencing a crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing 988 and then pressing 1.
Supporting veterans and caregivers. Last year, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the VA to cut red tape and give veterans who need assistance at home more flexibility to pick their own caregivers. As part of those actions, VA also launched a pilot program, known as the Virtual Psychotherapy Program for Caregivers, to provide mental health counseling services to family caregivers caring for our nation’s heroes. The program successfully completed its pilot phase and is now a permanent program. Since October 2023, the program has provided over 4,937 psychotherapy sessions to family caregivers. And, last year, President Biden signed an Executive Order calling for the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our nation’s history to support the economic security of military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors.
If you are a veteran, visit www.va.gov/PACT or go to your local VA hospital to see if you are eligible for PACT Act benefits and services.
For a state-by-state breakdown of PACT Act data, click here.
-Screening Vets for exposure: -Delivering Benefits to Vets and their survivors -Prioritizing vets with cancer -Spreading the word to vets and their survivors -Increasing the VA's capacity to serve vets -Eliminating benefits delays for vets -Accelerating healthcare eligibility Some of the recent work completed by the Biden-Harris administration to benefit veterans and their survivors includes: -Ending veteran homelessness -Securing jobs for vets -Removing barriers to mental healthcare -Supporting veterans and caregivers The Biden administration provides information to veterans who0 have not applied for the PACT Act grant. Visit www.va.gov./PACT
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