The PACT Act: What It Covers and for Which Veterans

Like so many things concerning the workings of very large bureaucracies, the new “PACT Act,” which was narrowly passed by Congress recently and which is now signed by the President, has been a long time coming for the nation’s veterans. The video here will give a brief introduction to the PACT Act and who and what it covers.

The film is produced by SITREP and is very effective as a solid informational introduction to what the VA will be beginning work on for those veterans who have experienced exposure to toxic materials during their time in the service. It will include veterans from the Vietnam Era to the Post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here are some of the important points: the PACT Act expands and extends eligibility for VA Healthcare for all veterans who were or may have been exposed to toxic chemicals.

Photo: YouTube/U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

The PACT Act adds more than 20 new conditions or illnesses associated with toxic exposure.

It adds more presumptive locations where things like Agent Orange, burn pits, and radiation exposure occurred.

It will provide for toxic exposure screening for every veteran enrolled in the VA Healthcare system.

And it will help the VA improve research, staff education, and treatments related to toxic exposure.

Photo: YouTube/U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

The video also offers three ways to get more information: subscribe to the SITREP channel, visit the VA site VA.gov/PACT, or call the VA information line at: 1-800-698-2411

I have been in the VA Healhcare system for some time now. I know that there are many who have not received the best of care, especially in matters like PTSD and toxic exposure from my generation (Vietnam) to the present. I know too that getting this expanded coverage provided in the new PACT Act involved a great deal of difficult struggle at the political level, but it has passed, and it is signed and is now law. As such, I think it behooves all veterans who were in areas of toxic exposure from Vietnam to the 9/11 wars to check into this and make sure that the law works the way it is intended so the VA can begin implementing it for all veterans who deserve it.

There is much more to the PACT Act, including benefits to dependents. Check this program out. Get involved.

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