President Biden Approves Over One Million Claims for Veterans Injured by Toxic Exposures

President Biden to Announce Approval of Over One Million Claims for Veterans Injured by Toxic Exposures

President Biden is set to make a significant announcement on Tuesday, revealing that his administration has approved more than one million claims from veterans who were injured by toxic exposures during their service. This milestone was made possible by the new law, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which President Biden championed and signed into law in the summer of 2022.

The PACT Act aims to quickly provide benefits to veterans who have been suffering from various maladies that did not qualify for treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This includes veterans who have been diagnosed with cancer, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, hypertension, sinusitis, and other conditions often related to the respiratory system, due to exposure to toxins, particularly from open burn pits near where soldiers were living and working.

The issue hits close to home for President Biden, who has long believed that his son Beau developed brain cancer as a result of exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq. Before signing the legislation, President Biden described the devastating effects of the exposures on veterans, including symptoms like headaches, numbness, dizziness, and cancer.

The approval of over one million claims under the PACT Act has resulted in more than 888,000 veterans and their surviving family members receiving approximately $5.7 billion in health benefits. This announcement comes as President Biden’s re-election campaign seeks to highlight his successes, particularly those with bipartisan support, as he vies for a second term in the White House.

The approval of these claims is a significant achievement for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has faced criticism in the past for failing to provide benefits in a timely manner. The implementation of the PACT Act has helped reduce wait times for veterans seeking care, despite an increase in the number of patients being treated at V.A. hospitals.

Overall, the approval of these claims marks a positive step forward in supporting veterans who have been impacted by toxic exposures during their service, and highlights the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing the needs of those who have sacrificed for their country.