Senators Block Healthcare and Benefits for Sick and Dying Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 27, 2022
CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, DC – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) condemns the 41 Senators who blocked the passage of today’s Senate cloture vote for the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act. This already passed the House twice and the Senate once.

“This is unacceptable. Sick veterans are dying, and IAVA along with our VSO partners and advocates call on the Senate to fix this immediately. 41 US Senators failed veterans tonight, denying healthcare and benefits for those who deployed in wars around the world in America’s name for decades,” said IAVA CEO, Jeremy Butler. “These veterans came home sick, and some are no longer with us. We demand that the Senate stays in session and not leave town until the PACT Act passes. Period.”

Of the 41 Senators who chose to turn their backs on sick veterans tonight, 25 voted yes on the same bill last month before a technicality required a second vote. IAVA calls on each of these Senators to explain to the American public what caused them to change their minds between their June 16th vote in favor of sick veterans and today when they turned their backs on them.  

The names and Twitter handles of these 25 Senators are listed below:

Sen. Barrasso – @SenJohnBarrasso           

Sen. Blackburn – @MarshaBlackburn

Sen. Blunt – @RoyBlunt

Sen. Braun – @SenatorBraun

Sen. Cassidy – @SenBillCassidy

Sen. Cornyn – @JohnCornyn

Sen. Cotton – @SenTomCotton

Sen. Cramer – @SenKevinCramer

Sen. Cruz – @SenTedCruz

Sen. Ernst – @SenJoniErnst

Sen. Fischer – @SenatorFischer

Sen. Hagerty – @SenatorHagerty

Sen. Hawley – @SenHawleyPress

Sen. Hyde-smith – @SenHydesmith

Sen. Johnson – @SenRonJohnson

Sen. Inhofe – @JimInhofe

Sen. Kennedy – @SenKennedy

Sen. Marshall – @RogerMarshallMD

Sen. McConnell – @LeaderMcConnell

Sen. Portman – @SenRobPortman

Sen. Sasse – @SenSasse

Sen. Scott, Rick – @SenRickScott

Sen. Scott, Tim – @SenatorTimScott

Sen. Sullivan – @SenDanSullivan

Sen. Young – @SenToddYoung

IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 425,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans and IAVA’s programs are second to none. Any veteran or family member in need can reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist. IAVA’s The Vote Hub is a free tool to register to vote and find polling information. IAVA’s membership is always growing. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.

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