In a significant milestone for military veterans, President Joe Biden is set to announce the approval of over 1 million PACT Act claims, ensuring that benefits reach veterans impacted by toxic exposures during their service. According to a White House statement, these claims have translated into support for over 888,000 veterans and their survivors across every state and U.S. territory.
This action fulfills a promise signified by the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act, named after a combat medic who succumbed to cancer after service. The law, signed in August 2022, represents the most substantial benefit expansion for toxic-exposed veterans in over three decades. Biden's administration has been swiftly processing claims at a record pace, with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivering services to a greater number of veterans than ever before. In his announcement, slated to take place at the Westwood Park YMCA in Nashua, New Hampshire, the President is poised to underscore the PACT Act's crucial role in providing health care and other benefits.
The law has led to wide-scale screenings for toxic exposures, with more than 5.4 million veterans screened so far. In terms of fiscal deliverables, the VA has processed over 1.57 million claims this fiscal year, marking an increase of 28% from the previous record. Among the recipients, veterans with cancer have been made a priority in line with Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative, receiving nearly $637 million in PACT Act benefits. Furthermore, aggressive outreach efforts have resulted in veterans and survivors submitting 4.17 million total claims since the Act's enactment, including 1,655,810 specific to the PACT Act itself.
The administration has also taken additional steps to support the veteran community, addressing critical issues like veteran homelessness and unemployment, and enhancing access to mental health care. As per the information released, efforts to combat veteran homelessness are yielding results, with a 5 percent decline since 2020 and cities like Dallas declaring an effective end to the issue. Initiatives are also in place to secure jobs for veterans transitioning from military service and to provide cost-free emergency health care to those in acute suicidal crisis—a benefit used by over 50,000 individuals since 2023.
For veterans looking to learn more about the PACT Act, resources are available at www.va.gov/PACT and at local VA hospitals. Eligible veterans are encouraged to reach out to receive the benefits and services secured by this landmark legislation.
