Brown Discusses New Pact Act Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Toxins

DEFIANCE, OH -Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable at VFW Post 3360 in Defiance to discuss new health care and disability benefits for veterans who have been harmed by toxic exposure while serving in the military. Veterans are now eligible for these benefits due to Brown's bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022that was signed into law last year. Brown has held 33 roundtables and events around Ohio to help raise awareness and help veterans access these benefits.

"This law is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country's history," said Brown. "We're working to get the word out to veterans across Ohio. If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions."

The legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.

"Tanya and I were excited and pleased to work with Senator Sherrod Brown and his staff in helping our veterans. We were grateful for the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing our veterans, their families and widows as well as potential solutions. Our office was very excited to take part in the roundtable discussion," said Erin Clady, Service Officer at the Defiance County Veterans Service Office.

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 toxins. He now is working with Ohio veterans, their families and advocates to bring additional attention to provisions in the PACT Act and urges all Ohio veterans and family members to visit www.va.gov/pact to find out more about how to claim benefits.

Ohio veterans who would like more information on available resources can reach out to the resources below.

Defiance County Veterans Office:

(419) 782-6861

Veterans Crisis Line

988 - Press 1

Or Text 838255

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

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