U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas

WASHINGTON – After Senate passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement:

“I’m pleased that this legislation has passed and that our veterans are now closer than ever to getting the treatment they need for exposure to toxic substances and burn pits, but it is absolutely shameful that this legislation wasn’t passed last week when Senate Republicans blocked this bill to score political points,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “It is well past the time that we address the impacts of toxic exposure that have been endured by members of our military, and I am pleased we are one step closer to giving millions of veterans the help they deserve. I look forward to President Biden signing this bill, which includes my legislation to improve VA’s workforce, as quickly as possible. Our commitment to our veterans and service members must never waver, and I am grateful for this bipartisan agreement that honors their service and sacrifice.”

Pappas is an original cosponsor of the Honoring our PACT Act, and helped shape the package as a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. This bipartisan, comprehensive legislation would finally address toxic exposure as a cost of war.

The Senate-passed bill incorporates Pappas’s VA Workforce Investment and Expansion Act, which would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce by enhancing VA hiring practices and incentives to better recruit and retain health care professionals and strengthen veteran access to quality VA health care.