Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made the announcement after reaching a deal with Republicans who had blocked the bill from advancing last week while they tried to add cost-controlling amendment votes to the package. “I have some good news, the minority leader and I have reached an agreement to vote on the PACT Act this afternoon,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “I am very optimistic that this bill will pass so that our veterans across America can breathe a sigh of relief.” The bill broadly expands health care resources and benefits to those exposed to burns and could provide coverage for up to 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans. Adds conditions related to burns and toxic exposure, including hypertension, to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ list of illnesses that have occurred or worsened during military service. The legislation had been held up in the chamber since last week, when more than two dozen Republicans, who previously supported the measure, temporarily blocked its advance.Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican from Pennsylvania, rallied his fellow Republicans to suspend the legislation in exchange for amendment votes, specifically an amendment that would change an accounting provision. Toomey previously said he wanted an amendment vote with a 50-vote limit. Tuesday’s final vote followed votes on three amendments with a 60-vote limit. Toomey’s amendment, which would have changed a budget component of the legislation, failed as expected, on a 47-48 vote. Last week’s surprise move by Republicans prompted a swift backlash among veterans and veterans groups, including protests on the steps of the U.S. Capitol over the weekend and earlier this week. Comedian and political activist Jon Stewart — a leading advocate for veterans on the issue — took on individual GOP senators to support a bill that had garnered broad bipartisan support in previous votes. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell defended his party’s handling of the legislation at a news conference Tuesday. “Look, this kind of back and forth happens all the time in the legislative process, you’ve seen it over the years,” he said. “I think in the end, the veterans service organizations will be happy with the end result.” This story and headline have been updated with additional developments on Tuesday. CNN’s Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
