Chairman Takano On Senate Release Of Toxic Exposure Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran’s (R-Kans.) release of the senate version of Chairman Takano’s Honoring Our Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics Act Of 2021 Or Honoring Our PACT Act.

“I am happy to see that Senator Tester and Moran were able to build on the bipartisan momentum made in the U.S. House of Representatives only a few months ago, and negotiate an agreement and path forward for my PACT Act. I have long said that, we cannot let cost or implementation hurdles get in the way of making good on our promise – toxic-exposed veterans do not have time to wait,” said Chairman Takano. “I am especially encouraged that the Senate will preserve the majority of the House version of the bill – including 23 new presumptive illnesses and expanded access to healthcare – and begin consideration of the most comprehensive legislation to date to treat toxic exposure as a cost of war.”

Background: The Honoring Our Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics Act Of 2021 Or Honoring Our PACT Act is legislation authored by Chairman Mark Takano that will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting toxic-exposed veterans including access to earned benefits and healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Chairman Takano’s legislation passed the house earlier this year with A bipartisan vote of 256-174 and has the strong support of 42 Veterans Service Organizations, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, the Biden-Harris Administration, and advocates Jon Stewart And John Feal. 

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