June 21, 2021

Chairman Takano Announces Committee Markup on Bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act

Comprehensive legislation will address military toxic exposure

WASHINGTON, D.C —Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced a Full Committee Markup on his landmark legislation, H.R. 3967, the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 or the Honoring our PACT Act. With 25 original cosponsors—including all HVAC Democrats-- and the support of 9 Veteran Service Organizations, this critical bipartisan legislation will comprehensively address toxic exposure. The Committee will mark up the bill in a hybrid hearing on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 2:00PM ET. See full bill text here.

 

“This week we are marking up my bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act because 2021 will be the year that we pass comprehensive legislation to finally recognize toxic exposure as a cost of war,” said Chairman Takano. “With the support of 25 of my colleagues and 9 VSOs, I’m confident that we can honor the sacred pact we make when we send our servicemembers into harm’s way. As a nation, we have already promised to care for them after their service—it is time for us to honor our word and our promise and comprehensively address toxic exposure.” 

 

THURSDAY, June 24, 2021

FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP — HYBRID HEARING

“Markup on: H.R. 3967 Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021”

2:00 PM ET; HVC-210, YouTube, Facebook

 

Credentialed press wishing to attend the hearing in person should RSVP to their respective gallery. Daily print reporters should RSVP to dailypressgallery@mail.house.gov. Periodical reporters should RSVP to Periodical.press@mail.house.gov. Broadcast reporters should RSVP to houseradiotv@mail.house.gov. Photographers should RSVP to press_photo@saa.senate.gov. 

 

Background:

 

Earlier this year, Chairman Takano announced that he will prioritize toxic exposure during the 117^th Congress and committed to moving comprehensive legislation forward based off 15 bills that were discussed at the Committee’s legislative hearing. As part of this effort, the Committee has worked to raise awareness of the effects of toxic exposure and has spoken to many veterans living with the effects of toxic exposure like MSgt. Brian Graves & Lt. Col. (Ret.) Nate Brauner. Last month, Chairman Takano led a press conference with Jon Stewart, John Feal, and VSO leaders to unveil the Honoring our PACT Act, and nine VSOs have come out in support of the legislation. All of these efforts build off the monumental passage of Chairman Takano’s Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Actlast Congress that finally granted benefits to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their service off the coast of Vietnam.

 

###

• Print
• Email
• Tweet