White House lauds PACT Act as it hits 1 million toxin claims granted to vets
The White House on Tuesday announced that more than 1 million claims have been granted through the PACT Act, a landmark law passed in 2022 that gave veterans expanded access to apply for compensation and relief related to toxic exposures during service.
More than 880,000 veterans are receiving disability benefits through the PACT Act across the entire country and its territories, according to the White House.
President Biden is expected to formally deliver the news later Tuesday during an event with veterans and their families while in New Hampshire.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough said the PACT Act has "helped us bring VA to vets, rather than making them change their lives to come to us."
"Now the president's been quite clear that we at the VA have more work to do and nothing will stop us from fulfilling our sacred obligation ... to serve America's vets every bit as well as they have served us," he said in a press call. "We won't rest until every veteran and every survivor gets the VA health care and benefits they deserve."
The VA still has many more claims to work through. Last year, veterans submitted more than 2.4 million claims, a 39 percent increase from 2022, for a total of 4.17 million claims since the PACT act became law.
"We're processing those claims at the fastest rate in history," said McDonough.
The PACT Act has also created $5.7 billion in earned benefits for veterans, and more than 5 million veterans have received free screenings for toxic exposures through the law.
The White House on Tuesday also released a specific breakdown of how many claims have been granted through the PACT Act in each state. Texas has the highest number granted at 110,629, followed closely by Florida at 87,792 and California with 74,363.
Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, said Biden has been proud of the VA's "fast actions and diligent implementation" of the claims.
"The PACT Act is changing the way we serve toxic exposed veterans," she said in a press call. "This is truly personal for the president, given his experiences as a military parent."
Military service can increase the health risks, as servicemembers can come into contact with toxins from burn pits and other toxic exposures while on duty or in training. But because major diseases like cancer can take years to develop, it can be hard for a veteran to link service to the disease.
The PACT Act, however, made it easier to file claims by presuming that a veteran came into contact with toxins during service and easing the burden of proof for those seeking medical help.
It also extended these services for the first time to the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the post-9/11 war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In March, the VA announced that millions more veterans would be eligible to enroll directly into VA health care for toxic exposure without the need to first apply for VA benefits, reducing the time to wait for claim relief by up to eight years.
A senior administration official said the conditions and diseases addressed by the PACT Act so far include bronchial asthma, hypertension and sinusitis. The White House also said in a fact sheet it is prioritizing cancer with the PACT Act.
The PACT Act is having a big effect across the VA. More than 440,000 veterans enrolled into VA health care last year, a 30 percent increase year-over-year. The VA has expanded its staff to meet the demand.
"The bottom line here is we are bringing more veterans in," the official said. "We are getting them the care that they deserve. And they're currently reporting trust levels in the outpatient arena nearly 92 percent, which is the highest ever."
Date: |
Topics
Filter
-
For Sale: An Oceanfront Estate Near Richard Nixon's Western White House
The $55 million property is two doors down from the former president’s California retreat, where he stayed following his resignation.The Wall Street Journal - World -
Former White House staffer says Trump called for leaker to be executed
Trump’s demand that 2020 leaker be punished with death raises questions about retribution if he is re-elected. Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin has disclosed that Donald Trump repeatedly mused out loud about ...The Guardian - World - Donald Trump -
I’m 64 and retired to watch my grandkids. My husband, 65, and I have $1.7 million. When should we claim Social Security?
“Should we wait longer to collect Social Security and live off of our 401(k) plans for two years?”MarketWatch - Business -
‘House of the Dragon’ Is Back on Sunday. Here Are Season 1’s Biggest Moments.
Need a reminder of all the events that went down in Season 1 between the Greens and the Blacks? We’ve got you.The New York Times - Top stories -
Farah Griffin: Trump talked about executing people at several White House meetings
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said former President Trump talked about executing people multiple times at White House meetings. Farah Griffin joined Mediaite’s Aidan McLaughlin to discuss her time in the Trump ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Suárez, Pederson homer, Nelson goes 6 innings in Diamondbacks' 7-1 victory over White Sox
Eugenio Suárez homered, Ryne Nelson pitched six solid innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 on Friday night for their fourth victory in five games and ninth in 13ABC News - Sports - MLB -
Vet S Jefferson ends retirement, joins Chargers
Veteran safety Tony Jefferson has signed with the Chargers after spending last season as a scouting intern with the Ravens.ESPN - Sports -
Serena lauds Clark, hopes she'll 'stay grounded'
Speaking to reporters at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday, Serena Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam tournaments, said that she understands why WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark avoids social media and that she hopes the WNBA rookie tunes out ...ESPN - Sports -
Walker hits 2 HRs, Pederson adds a grand slam and the D-backs coast past the Angels 11-1
Christian Walker hit two homers, Joc Pederson added a late grand slam and the Arizona Diamondbacks coasted past the Los Angeles Angels 11-1ABC News - Sports - MLB -
Marcell Ozuna hits 1 of 4 Braves home runs in 9-2 rout of Rays
Marcell Ozuna had three hits including one of four Braves home runs and Atlanta’s offensive resurgence continued in a 9-2 rout of the Tampa Bay RaysABC News - Sports - MLB
More from The Hill
-
Pro-Palestinian protestors gather outside Biden fundraising event
Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside of the Democratic party’s largest-ever fundraiser on Saturday night in Los Angeles to express their outrage with President Biden’s policies on Gaza in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Biden is attending a ...The Hill - Politics - Joe Biden -
Trump denies Milwaukee 'horrible' city comment: 'Democrats are making up stories'
After his campaign said that former President Trump was referring to election integrity and crime when he reportedly made disparaging comments about Milwaukee at a meeting with Congressional Republicans, Trump took to Truth Social to say that ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Democratic lawmaker slams Project 2025 as 'un-American'
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) slammed Project 2025, a grand sweeping plan by Republicans to advance right-wing priorities and expand the powers of the presidency, as "un-American" in a new interview Saturday. Dean, speaking on MSNBC Reports, did not ...The Hill - Politics -
Greene alleges Fauci committed 'crimes against humanity' with COVID response
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), speaking at a Turning Point Action conference on Saturday, vowed to have former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci sent to prison over his handling of the ...The Hill - Politics - Covid -
Scaramucci suggests CEOs backing former president have 'Trump-nesia'
Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci suggested that some CEOs have “Trump-nesia” two days after former President Trump attended the quarterly meeting of Business Roundtable, with over 80 CEOs present including ...The Hill - Politics