An Act to improve health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial)
PACT
Enacted by
the 117th United States Congress
Effective
August 10, 2022
Number of co-sponsors
100
Citations
Public law
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 117–168 (text) (PDF)
Statutes at Large
136 Stat. 1759
Legislative history
Introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R.3967 by Mark Takano (D-CA) on June 17, 2021
Committee consideration by House Veterans' Affairs; House Armed Services
Passed the House on March 3, 2022 (256–174)
Passed the Senate on June 16, 2022 (84–14)
Agreed to by the House as S.3373 on July 13, 2022 (342–88) and by the Senate on August 2, 2022 (86–11)
Signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 10, 2022
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, known as the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, is an Act of Congress that spends $797 billion[1] to significantly improve healthcare access and funding for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.
The act was first introduced on June 17, 2021, by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA). The House of Representatives passed the bill by 256–174 on March 3, 2022,[2][3] and passed the Senate by 84–14 on June 16, 2022.[4][5][6] Due to a previously unnoticed technical constitutional issue with the bill, a revised version needed to pass the Senate again, but failed a cloture vote 55–42 on July 27, 2022, after 25 Republicans flipped their votes.[7][8] Republicans cited a preexisting provision that made previously approved veterans' funding mandatory rather than discretionary as justification for their vote changes, while claiming the provision would increase spending authority unrelated to burn pits.[8][9][10]
The failed cloture vote occurred immediately after the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act passed the Senate, after which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced their agreement on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The act would be approved through reconciliation, which would require only 50 votes plus Vice President Harris as the tie-breaking vote as Senate President. The failed cloture vote on the veterans' bill was widely seen from Democrats and veterans as retaliation for agreeing on the inflation bill.[11]
Dozens of veterans, many of whom were exposed to burn pits themselves, continuously camped outside the United States Capitol in protest for five days.[12] The bill passed the Senate by 86–11 on August 2, 2022, amid pressure from the veteran groups and other activists. There was no change in the funding mechanism or of the bill's text between the first and the second Senate vote.[13][14][11] On August 10, 2022, it was signed into law by President Joe Biden.[15]
^"Legislation Enacted in the Second Session of the 117th Congress That Affects Mandatory Spending or Revenues | Congressional Budget Office". www.cbo.gov. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
^Takano, Mark (2022-03-01). "Actions - H.R.3967 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Honoring our PACT Act of 2021". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^Kheel, Rebecca (2022-03-03). "Sweeping Toxic Exposure Bill Passed by House". Military.com. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
^"Senate passes amended version of PACT act, providing health care benefits to veterans". WWAYTV3. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
^"Senate passes the PACT Act to provide more help to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
^John, Basil (28 July 2022). "Democrats, activists frustrated as 25 Republicans flip vote for burn pits bill, stalling legislation". WAVY.com.
^ abDeBonis, Mike. "Senate Republicans block bill to help veterans exposed to burn pits". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
^Lerman, David (July 27, 2022). "Veterans toxic exposure bill delayed as cloture attempt rejected". Rollcall. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
^Staff (July 30, 2022). "Senator Sherrod Brown pushes for passage of PACT Act following reversal of Republican support". Scioto Valley Guardian. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
^ ab"Senate passes veterans health bill after Republicans cave in to pressure". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
^Kime, Patricia (2022-08-01). "Veterans Protest at US Capitol as Pressure Mounts on Senate Republicans over Toxic Exposures Bill". Military.com. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
^III, Leo Shane (2022-08-04). "Now that PACT Act has passed, how soon will veterans see their benefits?". Military Times. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
^Kaine, Tim (2022-08-03). "Actions - S.3373 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Honoring our PACT Act of 2022". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
^"Biden signs 'burn pits' help for vets; a personal win, too". AP NEWS. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
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