A new piece of legislation will provide services for U.S. veterans, and, according to Matthew Elmore, White County veterans service officer, it is a very significant endeavor by the United States Congress.
“The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 is one of the most significate pieces of legislation affecting veterans that has been passed by Congress in the last four decades and the largest expansion of VA benefits for veterans exposed to toxins in over 30 years,” Elmore said. “It is expected that over 5 million veterans will receive VA benefits and services as a result of the PACT Act.”
The PACT Act will expand access to VA health care for veterans. In addition, it will establish presumptive service connections for 23 conditions associated with exposure to burn pits and expand the presumption of Agent Orange exposure to several locations and adds disease presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The act will also increase the number of veterans eligible for Gulf War illness benefits and make it easier to establish entitlement to such benefits. The PACT Act also recognizes additional radiation-risk activities that will qualify veterans for presumptive service connection for diseases associated with radiation exposure.
While Elmore is optimistic about the future of health care services for veterans, he warned that the changes will take time to implement.
“Not all of these changes will take effect immediately, however,” he said. “Some will be phased in over the next few years.”
Elmore encouraged anyone seeking more information about the PACT Act to contact him directly at the White County Veterans Service Office, in the American Legion Building, on Liberty Square, or by calling him at (931) 836-3595.
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