Burning trash?
One of the most dangerous things our troops overseas have to survive is burning trash.
Burning trash? Yes. When deployed overseas, our fighting women and men often do not have access to most basic solid waste facilities, which forces service members to live next to burning trash – including dangerous metals, chemicals, rubber, and even defunct explosives.
The result?
These service members voluntarily risk their lives for our national security. They dodge bullets, evade IEDs, and then... get sick with cancer and respiratory illnesses because they are forced to live near burning trash.
One of my proudest votes in Congress came just this year, when I cast a yes vote for the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) Act.
The PACT Act is one of the largest increases in veterans' benefits in recent history. Congress passed this historic law on a bipartisan basis. When it comes to delivering for veterans, you can always count on me.
The PACT Act makes history by expanding VA benefits to cover illnesses caused by these toxic burn pits. On top of that, veterans from every conflict from the Vietnam War to the post-9/11 era now have expanded eligibility for treatments for exposure to toxic substances like Agent Orange.
When Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans were in charge, they could not get this done, despite all their big talk. Our Democratic majority did, because Democrats know that we owe an enormous debt to the women and men who are willing to sacrifice their lives for our country — and we can deliver.
Rick
