WebRT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania has objected since June to a provision in the legislation language that would move $400 billion in preexisting discretionary veterans spending to make it mandatory spending. Republicans decision to oppose the bill has been met with massive backlash; veterans activist and former television host John Stewart has made numerous appearances calling on the GOP to return to backing the bill, including on Fox News. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for signature. Stewart has been on Capitol Hill rallying support for the bill and pressuring senators to pass it. Veterans groups, family members, longtime advocate Jon Stewart and several Democratic lawmakers gathered outside the U.S. Capitol after the vote on Thursday to voice their outrage. We CANNOT trust the same extreme MAGA Republicans who voted against PACT ACT vets cancer care to fund it - they wont! "I hope we learn a lesson. against Can you donate $3 right now to help Daily Kos keep fighting? We've got to pass this now.". As written, the legislation would not just help Americas veterans as designed. I mean, youre there, theres nothing else you could do.. "You support the war machine. 26 Apr 2023 18:18:55 ", Susan Zeier, mother-in-law of the late Sgt. Eleven Republican senators voted Tuesday against a bipartisan measure, the PACT Act, that is designed to help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while deployed abroad. "This budgetary gimmick is so unrelated to the actual veterans' issue that has to do with burn pits, that it's not even in the House version of this bill.". Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has been leading opposition to the bill, and voted against it both times. Its not yet clear whether some Republicans will continue to fight against the bill if they dont get the changes they want. Stay up to date with what you want to know. and after 25 Senators voted against the bipartisan bill. Last week, sudden Republican opposition to the bill, called the PACT Act, left many veterans and their supporters shocked. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. The bill will expand the VAs benefits and services to roughly 3.5 million veterans. Sens. I don't think my runtime has ever recovered. / CBS News. These 11 GOP senators voted against the Honoring Our Pact Act by Brad Dress - 08/03/22 5:45 PM ET The U.S. Senate passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on The Senate finally was poised to pass a bill that would provide health care and benefits for millions of veterans injured by exposure to toxins, from Agent Orange in Vietnam to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, 25 Senators recently voted to block the passage of the PACT Act. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. That's how we see this discussion and this debate. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. PACT ACT PACT Act ET: This article was updated to correct that veterans were exposed to burn pits before 9/11. The fight to make it harder for landlords to evict their tenants, On Succession, Sisyphus rolls the rock uphill. Jayapal backs Lee in California Senate race, Two hospitals may have violated federal law in denying woman an emergency abortion, HHS says, Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club. But, last week more than two dozen Republicans who voted for the bill in June voted against PACT ACT: Senators, congressmen voted no | Coeur Twenty-five Republicans who voted against the bill last week voted for a nearly identical version of the legislation in June. Hours later, the IRA was announced, much to the GOPs chagrin. The protests and publicity are challenging the traditional narrative that the Republican Party stands by US troops. I, too, remain committed to Idaho veterans impacted by burn pits and toxic exposure and will continue to support bipartisan legislation that can withstand necessary fiscal standards to ensure solvency and endurance, not additional slush fund spending placed on the American people, he added. Fortunately, the PACT Act has passed both chambers and was signed into law by the President today. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.". Kos Media, LLC. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others attend a news conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the day after Senate Republicans blocked a procedural vote to advance PACT Act. In a nearly 10-minute speech, Jon Stewart unleashed his vitriol toward Senate Republicans over their votes against advancing the veteran-focused PACT Act.. "Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC. Biden welcomes small business owners to White House to highlight economic growth. If the PACT Act were targeted and if we could ensure the implementation of it by the VA would be executed in an efficient manner, I would have trillion dollar corporate tax cutBost helped pass in 2017. deemed mentally incompetent the right to continue to own firearms, "I choked on the odor from the winds when they would pick up after a while. These are the Republican Senators who voted against the bill: Only one Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted against the bill. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . You just gave tax cuts in 2017 to the richest people in America. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. So, how did our senators and representatives vote on the Honoring our PACT Act "The American people are sick and tired of the games that go on in this body. The U.S. Senate passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on Tuesday night in an 86-11 vote, expanding health care for 3.5 million of Americas veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits in the post 9/11-era. Burn pit veterans' bill: Who voted against the PACT Act? Tonight, the Senate voted to give us the chance to fix a completely unnecessary budget gimmick in the underlying text of the PACT Act. American Airlines pilots authorize strike. Activists had spent a dozen years campaigning for such an expansion a period during which they lost many of their own, including Sgt. pic.twitter.com/TAuE12G8l0. While not all Republican senators who voted against the bill talked publicly about why they did so, Republican Senator Toomey said on the Senate floor that he voted against the bill because it would create $400 billion in unrelated spending. The PACT Act would reclassify nearly $400 billion in VA funding, allowing Dems to instead spend that on their liberal wish list, he wrote. I didn't hear anybody complaining about on the other side of the aisle about the impact that had on veterans and their concerns about the fiscal soundness of the United States.. What is the PACT Act? Biden signs bill to help vets Nick Knudsen on Twitter: "RT @sfpelosi: Extreme If you won't vote on this bill, you do not support veterans.". Why did the GOP reject a bill to help veterans exposed May 1 (UPI) -- El Paso, Texas, will enter a state of emergency starting Monday, in advance of the pandemic-era immigration policy Title 42 being lifted, the border city's mayor, Oscar Leeser, declared. on Twitter: "Republicans Fourteen Republicans Voted Against Bill Expanding ", Tillis said through a statement in June that "while well-intentioned, the PACT Act creates new promises to veterans while breaking existing ones, which is why I could not support its passage.". Senate Republicans blocked the PACT Act that would The bill now heads to President Biden's desk, and the White House says he looks forward to signing it. But, last week more than two dozen Republicans who voted for the bill in June voted against advancing it this time. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In June, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision in favor of a veteran whose case was related to burn pit exposure in Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety. ", Sick veterans demand medical coverage for illnesses caused by burn pits, The abortion ruling has troops and veterans speaking out, some for the first time, Veterans Say 'Burn Pits' Created Toxic Clouds That Made Them Sick, After spiking earlier talks, Manchin agrees to a new deal on climate and taxes, Jon Stewart Uses His Celebrity To Bring Attention To Vets Exposed To Burn Pits. Now we will see if Republicans and Joe Manchin can figure out a way to tell veterans that while we can pay for them to go abroad and get sick and die for our country, we cant afford to take care of them when they come home. After changes were made, it was expected to breeze through Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden. WATCH: Senate passes PACT Act, expanding health vote against Many took to the podium at Thursday's press conference to demand accountability and further action, calling on lawmakers not to leave for August recess until they can pass the bill. ", "We had strong bipartisan support for this bill. The bill could be called for another vote by its supporters. "They lived up to their oath! New flights available after widespread delays in U.S. air travel. Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. My concern about this bill has nothing to do with the purpose of the bill, Toomey said. On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the United States House of Representativespassed HR 3967,the Honoring our PACT Act of 2021. Tillis told the Raleigh News Observer he had doubts about the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deal with backlogs and wait times for veterans seeking care. A spokesperson for Rischs office said the senator was a strong supporter of veterans but did not support the $400 billion in mandatory spending. Here are the 11 Republicans who voted against the 27 Apr 2023 15:51:44 A bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down yesterday in the Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote that failed to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance the legislation. Heres why. "More than 3 million veterans have received VA's new toxic exposure screenings since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, with approximately 42% reporting a concern of exposure," the VA said. S. 3373: Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring A bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down yesterday in the Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote that failed to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance the legislation. The final tally was 55-42 (with three senators abstaining), falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. During hearings, veteran and director of health policy at the American LegionKatie Purswelltold Congress that her exposure to burn pits during her time stationed overseas has left her weakened. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. First Class Heath Robinson, hugs Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) during Thursday's news conference. Currently, more than 70 percent of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA due to veterans inability to prove their illnesses or cancers are linked to exposure to burn pits. It could also allow Democrats to effectively spend the same money twice and enable hundreds of billions in new, unrelated spending on the discretionary side of the federal budget, McConnell said on Thursday. WebRepublicans voted against the Pact Act because it would enable $400 billion over the next 10 years in spending completely unrelated to veterans. First Class Heath Robinson, hugs Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) during Thursday's news conference. Eleven Republican senators voted Tuesday against a bipartisan measure, the PACT Act, that is designed to help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while deployed abroad. Stewart noted at one point that the lawmakers being addressed were likely indoors enjoying air conditioning, ignoring the veterans at least one of whom was wearing an oxygen tube braving the scorching heat for over an hour to try to make their point. By submitting your email, you agree to our. We CANNOT trust the same extreme MAGA Republicans who voted against PACT ACT vets cancer care to fund it - they wont! WebRepublicans voted against the Pact Act because it would enable $400 billion over the next 10 years in spending completely unrelated to veterans. It now goes to President Joe Bidens desk to be signed into law. The PACT Act would expand eligibility Toomey led the opposition effort to the bill last week when he complained about the mandatory spending, which he called a budgetary gimmick on the Senate floor. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has been leading opposition to the bill, and voted against it both times. Veterans, military family members and advocates rally outside the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in support of a bill that enhances health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to the toxic burn pits. I started waking up with bloody noses. In remarks on the Senate floor, he decried it as a "budgetary gimmick" that would create $400 billion in unrelated spending by moving it from the discretionary to mandatory category. But these 11 GOP senators still voted against the package on final passage. Veteran AffairsCommittee chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) praised the work that was done on the bill he brought to the floor last year, saying,This fight is not over, but I will not rest until our veterans have a guarantee in statute that their government will take care of them when they come homeno matter the cost.. Looking back on Mike Bosts careerleading up to his position as ranking Republican member on the Veterans Affairs Committee,it seems that the only thing hes actually done for veterans is vote to allow veterans deemed mentally incompetent the right to continue to own firearms. Toomey discusses why he voted against bill to help vets It's an outrage and there has to be accountability. Please enter valid email address to continue. Pelosi made that point doubly clear at her press conference after the bill passed,saying,"For the Republicans to go to the floor and say their veterans really don't want this help with their health because it's going to cost money and they're more concerned about the budget than they are about their health, oh really? The secret delegate battle that will decide the 2024 Republican nominee, The Dark Brandonmeme and why the Biden campaign has embraced it explained. "How he convinced 25 of his colleagues to change their vote, I have no idea. If we pass the PACT Act, as is, that number jumps to over a million, she tweeted, offering another bill from her colleague, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), which would allow veterans to seek care at facilities in their communities. RELEASE: Gottheimer Demands Senate Immediately #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . We don't have billionaire backers like some right-wing media outlets. Nick Knudsen on Twitter: "RT @sfpelosi: Extreme But those same spending concerns didn't seem to pose an initial concern for the more than two dozen Republicans who voted for it last month only to abruptly change their stance. We should absolutely help veterans who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of toxic exposure during their service. Only one Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted against the bill. Two Democrats and one Republican abstained, while 47 Democrats, 8 Republicans and 2 independents voted to pass the bill. The vote was a surprise, as the bill was originally passed by the Senate 84-14 on June 16 and received overwhelming Republican support. May 1 (UPI) -- First Republic Bank was sold Monday to JPMorgan Chase, as regulators seek to calm a turbulent banking sector that has seen three U.S. banks fail in less than two months. We should all take pride in this moment. I want to know that the VA can implement this comprehensive bill in a fair and effective way, and right now, I am not confident that that is the case, the senator wrote. May 1 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the censuring of transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who has been barred from attending remaining sessions of the state House in person. April 26 (UPI) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that more than 500,000 claims have been filed since President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law in August. Are Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in love, or are they good actors? "You don't support the troops," he said. Tax cuts for the rich, cancer for our veterans. DBALLCAPS on Twitter: "RT @RedTRaccoon: 217 Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of trying to block Toomey's amendment. What the hell? You just gave tax cuts in 2017 to the richest people in America. "Sens. The PACT Act is part of a broader conversation thats happening over veterans rights. However, given the blowback the GOP has faced following its failure in the Senate last week, the party is likely more open to finding a compromise to quickly move it forward. John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, Mike Braun, Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Inhofe, Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, Roger Marshall, Mitch McConnell, Rob Portman, Ben Sasse, Tim Scott, Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan and Todd Young. Democrats argued the GOP was shifting its position because it was unhappy with a separate deal worked out by Sens. "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. 1 killed in shooting at Massachusetts house party, Daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shaquil Barrett drowns in family pool, Chicago mayor calls on Texas to cease sending migrants to the city, Biden shows support for free press at White House Correspondents' dinner. 26 Apr 2023 18:54:28 The vote was a surprise, as the bill was originally passed by the Senate 84-14 on June 16 and received overwhelming Republican support. Robinsons wife Danielle, an advocate for burn pit exposure victims who have been denied benefits, attended Bidens State of the Union address earlier this year. VA marks half-a-million PACT Act claims filed in latest The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that more than 500,000 claims have been filed since President Biden signed the PACT Act, which makes it easier for veterans to file claims based on exposure to toxic substances. Additionally, Sens. Itwas a result of months of bipartisan negotiation, and it had already passed the Senate in June with strong Republican support. Instead, in a surprise move, 25 Republican senators blocked the measure on Wednesday even though they had voted in favor of it just one month earlier. U.S. soldiers have been exposed to a large number of toxins in various conflicts, including Iraq (pictured), where burning oil wells released toxic fumes. If it were to fail, the GOP would again find itself at the center of protests and accusations the party would like to avoid ahead of the midterms. research and benefits for as much as 3.5 million veterans, What's the PACT Act? During hearings, veteran and director of health policy at the American LegionKatie Purswelltold Congress that her exposure to burn pits during her time stationed overseas has left her weakened. "The Veterans Health Administration welcomed 27,181 new hires in the first six months of the fiscal year, the highest hiring level in history," the VA said. Vote Against Ernst's office said her opposition was due to the budget issue, while the others did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Burn pits are holes in the ground the U.S. military dug near bases in countries that had limited infrastructure where troops would dump trash and burn it to dispose of it. DBALLCAPS on Twitter: "RT @RedTRaccoon: 217 26 Apr 2023 18:30:33 But supporters of the bill noted that Republicans had previously supported the measures mandatory spending. And like Tillis, the senator raised additional concerns with wait times, suggesting the bill increases waiting periods at the VA and does not resolve lengthy backlogs for veterans seeking care. He also slammed Toomey's characterization of the bill's spending provision as a "slush fund," saying that the U.S. has much bigger funds without guardrails in support of its defense budget and overseas military operations. Two Democrats and one Republican abstained, while 47 Democrats, 8 Republicans and 2 independents voted to pass the bill. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare. May 1 (UPI) -- A recent decline in retail-level gasoline prices should start to accelerate, provided crude oil prices remain under pressure, a senior market analyst said Monday. The vote came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday afternoon that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had come to an agreement. https://newsweek.com/why-veteran-health-care-bill-was-smacked-down-republicans-1729230 YOU need to stop the lying. Watch the vote in the player above. The bill was only expected to pass in the Housebecause the Democratic Party holdsthe majority of seats. Twenty-five Republican senators who had voted for the bill in June voted against advancing the bill last week, citing an objection to how the legislation is paid for. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives Eleven Republican senators voted Tuesday against a bipartisan measure, the PACT Act, that is designed to help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while deployed abroad. As most of us know, the GOPespecially under Minority Leader Mitch McConnellhas never done the right thing, so hopefully the pressure of midterm elections will force a few conservative senators to support the outcome of the wars they so love having kids fight for them and their donors. The Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly approved the PACT Act, a bill to expand health care benefits for veterans who developed illnesses due to their exposure to burn pits during military service. on Twitter: "Republicans "Thanks to President Biden, the millions of veterans who fought our wars for the past 30 years -- who breathed in debris from sandstorms, fumes from burning trash, and more while overseas -- are now taken care of for the conditions that followed them home from war," said Veterans' Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. However, last week 41Republicans blockedthe final passage of the legislation, arguing about how the legislation will be financed. Acknowledging the public pressure, McConnell told NBCs Ali Vitali, Yeah, itll pass this week on Monday. Burn pit veterans' bill: Who voted against the PACT Act? #ProtectVeteransHealthCare. Sen. Pat Toomey holds up final approval of burn pit That's why we keep our work free. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. The materials being incinerated can include everything from food to jet fuel and paint. Democrats announced that a deal on the social and climate spending had stalled, perhaps indefinitely, and the CHIPS bill was allowed to move forward. The Hill has requested comment from Lees office. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. April 26 (UPI) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that more than 500,000 claims have been filed since President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law in August.
