President Joe Biden made a significant announcement during his visit to Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment for veterans affected by toxic exposures.

The occasion highlighted the milestone achievement of 1 million claims approved under the PACT Act, a testament to the administration’s commitment to those who have served in the military and their families.

Since the enactment of the PACT Act in August 2022, over 1 million claims have been approved for veterans, as announced by the administration on Tuesday.

This translates to approximately 888,000 veterans and their families across all 50 states who have been eligible to receive disability benefits under this legislation.

In terms of financial impact, the benefits disbursed to veterans and their families total approximately $5.7 billion, according to the administration’s figures.

On Monday, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized that President Biden has long recognized the struggle many veterans face in securing the care they need from the VA.

The PACT Act, short for “Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics,” addresses this issue.

While not as widely publicized as some of the president’s other legislative achievements like the bipartisan infrastructure law and comprehensive tax, climate, and healthcare reforms, the PACT Act holds profound personal significance for Biden.

He attributes his son Beau’s brain cancer, which ultimately claimed his life, to exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq.

Biden has consistently pledged to enact the PACT Act as a means of addressing this issue.

Burn pits were common disposal sites for chemicals, plastics, medical waste, and human waste on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Previously, the Department of Veterans Affairs rejected 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure.

However, the PACT Act shifts the burden of proof by requiring the VA to presume certain respiratory illnesses and cancers are linked to burn pit or toxic exposure, alleviating veterans from having to prove this connection themselves.

Before delivering his remarks, President Biden visited a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Merrimack, New Hampshire.

There, he met with Lisa Clark, an Air Force veteran benefiting from the PACT Act due to her late husband’s exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Relevant articles:
– Biden to announce 1 million claims granted for VA benefits under toxic exposure law • Missouri Independent, Missouri Independent
– Biden announces more than 1 million claims related to toxic exposure granted under new veterans law, WYMT
– Biden announces more than 1 million claims related to toxic exposure granted under new veterans law, wilx.com
– VA reaches 1 million toxic exposure claims granted, including nearly 4,000 in SD • South Dakota Searchlight, South Dakota Searchlight