Special Message from MOAA National, 31 July 2022
The National MOAA organization has issued a call to its members to take action on this vital issue described below. We at the chapter level support this petition.
Legislation vital to the health of 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans (including your chapter president) from all generations of service has been held up long enough. From burn pits to Agent Orange to chemicals found on domestic bases, toxic exposure touches so many members of the military community. The longer we wait, the more veterans we lose – we witnessed
this with Agent Orange allowing a generation of veterans to pass without the requisite healthcare our nation promised these veterans.
With the backing of dozens of VSO organizations like MOAA and the support of many lawmakers from both parties, the Honoring Our PACT Act has unexpectedly stalled in the Senate, just weeks after a large majority of the same body approved the critical and life-saving legislation.
WRITE YOUR SENATORS TODAY!
A cloture vote to introduce the PACT Act for Senate debate failed Wednesday, 55-42. Sixty votes were needed to advance the legislation and trigger a vote by the Senate.
The vote likely surprised anyone who has been following this legislation. In June, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of it (84-14), but a procedural glitch required the legislation to go back to the House, where it was quickly approved, and then back to the Senate.
Forty-one senators (selectively arguing "How do we pay for it?") blocked a bill that would help veterans who had been exposed to toxic burn pits — even though 25 of the 41 had previously supported a nearly identical bill. The central issue that caused so many Senators to change their positions was a budgetary fight about whether to categorize the funding as mandatory or discretionary spending. Sen. Pat Toomey, (R-Pa.), is seeking an amendment that would cap mandatory funding for toxic exposure. His concern led to other lawmakers dropping their support. But Toomey’s amendment would put significant restrictions on VA spending and greatly impact care for our toxic-exposed veterans.
Mandatory versus discretionary spending shouldn’t be the issue – as a nation we promised these veterans we would we care for them beyond their service. This is a violation of a contract our nation made to those veterans who fulfilled their contract to protect and defend our freedoms when less than 1 percent of our nation makes this commitment to protect and defend our freedoms, this is more than a disappointment, it is an outright scar on our national integrity and honor. Sen Casey Supports the PACT Act, Sen Toomey is blocking it.
MOAA’s stance is to support passage of the PACT Act now. Lives are at stake, and we must support our veterans suffering today from exposure to harmful toxins in a combat zone our nation asked them to serve. Funding details can be ironed out after the measure is approved.
Constituent outreach will send a strong message to your senators that the time for debate on toxic exposures is over. Veterans need action, and we need your help to get this bill over the finish line.
WRITE YOUR SENATORS TODAY!
Nationally, thousands of MOAA members already have written and called their legislators to express their support of this long-sought legislation. We want to offer our personal thanks for fighting alongside MOAA. But our work isn’t done – whether you’ve taken action in the past or you are new to the issue, we need everyone to take action today and tell your Senator we must get this passed as soon as possible. Your advocacy can make a difference, but further delays could mean disaster for this comprehensive package of benefits and expanded VA services. Please act today, veterans should not suffer while politicians in Washington, D.C. fight over the accounting of funding.
