Brown Discusses How PACT Act Will Expand Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Toxins

BOWLING GREEN, OH - Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable with local veterans, including those who have been harmed by exposure to toxic burn pits, to discuss the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that was recently signed into law by President Biden.

"This bill is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country's history," said Brown. "Providing health care and benefits for veterans who suffer from toxic exposure is a cost of going to war. If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions."

Brown was joined by veterans who have been exposed to, and affected by, burn pits during their military service. Local advocates will also join the roundtable discussion.

"Now that the pact act is now law, I want to see its implementation of the law done quickly but correctly and that my fellow veterans are receiving the correct information," said Tim Hauser, an Air Force Veteran who has been impacted by burn pit exposure.

"I am very excited that the PACT Act has become law and I appreciate the efforts of Senator Brown to help this come to fruition," said Zach Migura, Executive Director & Veteran Service Officer Wood County Veteran Service Office. "This legislation will provide health care and benefits to so many generations of veterans and their survivors that have been impacted by various types of toxic exposure during military service. We are already seeing a large increase in calls to our office because of the PACT Act's passage and are glad that these veterans will have the best chances to be properly served by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs."

The legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who died at age 39 from lung cancer in 2020 after being exposed to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq.

The PACT Act is the result of a years-long fight by Brown, veterans and advocates to secure access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and disability benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals. He now is working with Ohio veterans, their families and advocates to bring additional attention to provisions in the PACT Act so veterans can get the care they've earned and deserve.

Wood County veterans who would like more information on available resources can reach out to local and national resources listed below.

Wood County Veterans Service Office

419-354-9147

https://woodcountyvets.com/

Owens Community College Veterans Service Center

567-661-VETS (8387)

https://www.owens.edu/veterans

Bowling Green University Veteran Center

419.372.8136

https://www.bgsu.edu/nontraditional-and-military-students.html

Veterans Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255 - Press 1

Or Text 838255

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Ohio Veterans Find their County Veteran Service Office Here:

https://dvs.ohio.gov/what-we-do/find-a-cvso

All Ohio veterans and family members can go to va.gov/pact to find out more about how they can now claim the benefits they have earned.

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