We should absolutely help veterans who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of toxic exposure during their service. His expected result came after three Republican-submitted amendments to the bill proposed by Toomey, Blackburn, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. were defeated. Those amendments, Schumer said at a press conference, would be voted on as part of a deal that ensured the passage of the PACT Act. The PACT Act will secure benefits and care for Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan-era veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving overseas. May 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. government said Monday that new flights in the East Coast should save commuters time, though recent data show nearly a quarter of passenger flights have been delayed this year. The bill will expand the VAs benefits and services to roughly 3.5 million veterans. Vote Against | July 31, 2022 1:00 AM. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare" RT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, otherwise known as the PACT Act, was introduced in June by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), who chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, with the aim to address and fund health care, research, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, including burn pits large trenches dug to burn and dispose of sewage, medical waste, and other trash during their service. It could also allow Democrats to effectively spend the same money twice and enable hundreds of billions in new, unrelated spending on the discretionary side of the federal budget, McConnell said on Thursday. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. Please enter a valid email and try again. Nick Knudsen on Twitter: "RT @sfpelosi: Extreme We CANNOT trust the same extreme MAGA Republicans who voted against PACT ACT vets cancer care to fund it - they wont! 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. McCarthy to Russian reporter: I do not support what your country has done to Saudi alfalfa sparks tension in Arizonas Sonoran Desert. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare" RT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. Schumer, who had voted 'yes' the previous time and strongly supports the bill, changed his vote to 'no' as a simple procedural move allowing him to reconsider the cloture vote at any time. The plus side is that Tax cuts for the rich, cancer for our veterans. WebRepublicans voted against the Pact Act because it would enable $400 billion over the next 10 years in spending completely unrelated to veterans. "I choked on the odor from the winds when they would pick up after a while. The bill WASHINGTON - Eleven Republicans voted Tuesday against a billthat fundsresearch and benefits for as much as 3.5 million veterans who were impacted by toxic substances while they served. New flights available after widespread delays in U.S. air travel. These are the Republican Senators who voted against the bill: Only one Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted against the bill. This opposition raised the question of why more than two dozen Republicans, many veterans themselves, voted for it earlier this summer but flipped last week. Burn pit veterans' bill: Who voted against the PACT Act? Susan Zeier, mother-in-law of the late Sgt. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that over 500,000 claims have been filed since President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law The final tally was 55-42 (with three senators abstaining), falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. However, given the blowback the GOP has faced following its failure in the Senate last week, the party is likely more open to finding a compromise to quickly move it forward. Today, The Breakfast Club gave Donkey of the Day to the 11 republicans that voted against the PACT Act that would provide aid to Veterans. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. In remarks on the Senate floor, he decried it as a "budgetary "When you have cancer, when you're sick, a month, two months is a lifetime, both figuratively and possibly literally. Senate passes burn pit legislation to expand veteran Veterans would not have to prove that their illnesses are directly related to burn pit exposure to receive disability payments and assistance. VOTE QUESTION: On Passage, DESCRIPTION: Honoring our PACT Act, VOTE TYPE: Yea-And-Nay, STATUS: Passed With many areas in rural Oklahoma, the people have to drive a very long way to be able to get to a VA hospital and I am very passionate about them getting to one thats close to them.. These are all the Republican Senators who voted ", This fight is not over, but I will not rest until our veterans have a guarantee in statute that their government will take care of them when they come homeno matter the cost., On Thursday, Jon Stewart joined veterans groups in D.C. before the historic vote and spoke about the hope and political will that seemed to becoalescingat the right time. Robinsons wife Danielle, an advocate for burn pit exposure victims who have been denied benefits, attended Bidens State of the Union address earlier this year. Updated on: August 3, 2022 / 8:08 AM In a statement, the senator said he is committed to ensuring health and disability benefits are provided to veterans exposed to toxic substances while on their tours of duty.. After days of backlash, lawmakers are set to reconsider the bill in a Senate vote this week, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell telling NBC News that he expects it will pass. The PACT Act will secure benefits and care for Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan-era veterans exposed to toxic substances while serving overseas. Update, August 2, 12:30 pm: This story has been updated to include new information about a Senate vote on this legislation. RELEASE: Gottheimer Demands Senate Immediately Many veterans come home suffering from serious short- and long-termillnessesrelated to this kind of exposure to toxic substances. The bill was approved in the Senate by a vote of 86-11 a week after 41 Republicans elected to stall the final passage of the measure, citing concerns over its cost. The legislation also covers health benefits for other veterans exposed to chemicals, such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, during their military service. If the PACT Act were targeted and if we could ensure the implementation of it by the VA would be executed in an efficient manner, I would have RT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. But is the housing market headed for a crash? RELEASE: President Signs Gottheimer Provision into Oops. File Photo U.S. Navy/Arlo K. Abrahamson/UPI |, ACLU files suit against Montana House over censure of transgender lawmaker. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . Pelosi made that point doubly clear at her press conference after the bill passed,saying,"For the Republicans to go to the floor and say their veterans really don't want this help with their health because it's going to cost money and they're more concerned about the budget than they are about their health, oh really? #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . Marcia S Newman on Twitter: "RT @RedTRaccoon: 217 Trump calls for mistrial in civil rape case, says judge has made Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And theyre doing so over Republican pushback. First Class Heath Robinson, hugs Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) during Thursday's news conference. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Democrats argued the GOP was shifting its position because it was unhappy with a separate deal worked out by Sens. The 86-to-11 vote was received with cheers from the Senate gallery. Cancers and other issues alleged to be related to burn pits can come years later, as happened to Sgt. We don't have billionaire backers like some right-wing media outlets. May 1 (UPI) -- A recent decline in retail-level gasoline prices should start to accelerate, provided crude oil prices remain under pressure, a senior market analyst said Monday. WebRepublicans voted against the Pact Act because it would enable $400 billion over the next 10 years in spending completely unrelated to veterans. WebRT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. These are the Republican Senators who voted against the bill: John A. Barrasso, WY If it is filibustered, the bill will need 60 votes including GOP support in order to pass. Senate passes long-sought bill to help veterans affected RT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. But, last week more than two dozen Republicans who voted for the bill in June voted against / CBS News. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Confirm Anthony Johnstone to the Ninth Circuit, More than 800,000 could flee Sudan amid fighting, UN warns, Biden: Taxpayers not on the hook for First Republic failure, How an Uncommon Table can help bring our divided nation together, passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on Tuesday, Cardin wont seek reelection, opening up Maryland Senate seat, Schumer announces Senate hearings to expose GOP debt limit bill starting this week, EXCLUSIVE: Biden pick to head National Highway Traffic Safety Administration faces GOP roadblock, Montana legislator sues House speaker over censure, Supreme Court to consider overruling Chevron doctrine, McConnell insists hes sitting out debt talks to disbelief, Tucker Carlson, on leaked video, derides Fox streaming service, Senate rankings: Here are the 5 seats most likely to flip. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on climate change, health care and taxes. The bill now heads to President Biden's desk, and the White House says he looks forward to signing it. newsletter, telling NBC News that he expects it will pass, However, given the blowback the GOP has faced, veterans activist and former television host John Stewart, protested continually in front of the Capitol, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, attended Bidens State of the Union address. Sens. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania has objected since June to a provision in the legislation language that would move $400 billion in preexisting discretionary veterans spending to make it mandatory spending. After Republicans initially blocked a bill that would expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxins while deployed, the Senate is now poised to pass the legislation in the coming days. Last week, sudden Republican opposition to the bill, called the PACT Act, left many veterans and their supporters shocked.