Veterans

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi discusses the landmark Honoring our PACT Act alongside Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, Members of Congress, veterans advocate Jon Stewart and former United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin.  Pelosi explained how the bill addresses the painful injustice long inflicted on Servicemembers exposed to dangerous burn pits.

From the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan, on bases and in military theaters around the world, a generation of courageous Americans has donned the uniform to protect our freedom.  Our nation is blessed by the bravery and dedication of our Servicemembers, and we must do everything in our power to honor their sacrifice.  Democrats take pride in our record of historic investments and benefits for America’s veterans – including the landmark Post-9/11 GI Bill – and we remain committed to fulfilling our nation’s promises to these heroic patriots.

In the Majority, House Democrats have continued living up to that responsibility: championing efforts to increase access to timely, quality health care; eliminate the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) claims backlog; ensure every veteran gets the prompt and full benefits they deserve; end veteran homelessness; close gender disparities in veterans services; and strengthen support for our nation’s 5.5 million veterans’ caregivers. 

This year, President Biden and Democrats in Congress took a monumental step toward fully honoring the sacrifice of our heroes in uniform: enacting the largest expansion of access to VA care and benefits in decades.  The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act addresses the painful injustice long inflicted on Servicemembers exposed to dangerous burn pits – protecting the health of those who fought to protect us by recognizing toxic exposure as a cost of war and expanding access to care for as many as 3.5 million veterans.  Crucially, this legislation also empowers veterans and their families to seek justice for harm suffered while stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Guided by President Biden’s firm commitment to our Servicemembers and their families, Congressional Democrats will continue striving to fulfill our sacred promise: just as the military leaves no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they come home.  We are working to equip every veteran with the training, education and good-paying jobs they need to thrive, and we are relentlessly defending veterans’ benefits from Republicans’ continued efforts to gut the VA.  Democrats will not rest until every veteran is housed, provided world-class health care and offered full support in transitioning to civilian life.

Learn more about Veterans>>