MONTICELLO – The PACT Act is approved Federal legislation to help veterans exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand visited Sullivan County’s VA center Friday to reiterate the bill’s benefits.
“This bill will make sure we fund health care for our service members and veterans that were exposed to toxins in the line of duty,” said the Democratic Senator.
Gillibrand spoke to gathered vets touting the benefits, and she was flanked by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D-100), and Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19).
There are about 3.5 million eligible vets who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam and burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this exposure has caused cancer and other serious illnesses.
“Our service members were exposed to burn pits, and they emitted some of the worst toxins imaginable. We wanted to make sure our veterans and service members know they are covered. We are going to cover their health care. This health care they have earned, and that we have to put them first,” she said. “We are urging them all, if they have any health symptoms, to apply.”