The legislation also covers health benefits for other veterans who were exposed to chemicals, such as Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, during their military service. The measure was sent to the White House after Republicans blocked the legislation last week, arguing it included $400 billion in mandatory spending that would not be subject to an annual appropriations review — unlike the usual discretionary spending for federal agencies and programs that reviewed by Congress and approved annually. Republicans argue that under the PACT Act, Democrats could theoretically spend $40 billion a year for 10 years on other needs unrelated to veterans’ care because the $400 billion authorization over a decade is considered mandatory. However, supporters of the bill noted that Republicans had previously supported the measure’s mandatory spending. Democrats argued that the GOP was changing its position because it was unhappy with a separate deal worked out by Sens. Charles Schumer (DN.Y.) and Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) on climate change, health care and taxes . The GOP was under tremendous pressure to distance itself from the veterans camped out on the steps of the US Capitol. Those veterans had a high-profile ally in Jon Stewart, the former “Daily Show” host. Before the final vote, the Senate agreed to three amendments that control the cost of the bill, which led several Republicans to support it. But those 11 GOP senators still voted against the package for final passage. The Hill has turned it up to 11. Sen. Pat Toomey (Pa.) Toomey led the opposition push for the bill last week when he complained about mandatory spending, which he called a “fiscal gimmick” on the Senate floor. “My concern with this bill has nothing to do with the intent of the bill,” Toomey said. “This fiscal gimmick is so out of touch with the real burn veteran issue that it doesn’t even exist in the House version of this bill.” Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) Shortly before the Senate voted on Tuesday, Paul spoke out against the bill and said it would jeopardize the economy. “This bill would cost hundreds of billions of dollars at a time when the national debt is climbing over $30 trillion and inflation is at a 40-year high,” Paul said while speaking on the Senate floor. Sen. Mike Crapo (Idaho) Crapo told The Hill that he has sponsored four other bills in the Senate that would target veterans exposed to toxic burns and related injuries. In a statement, the senator said he is “committed to ensuring health and disability benefits are provided to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.” He ultimately did not support the PACT Act because he said it authorized a “slush fund” in mandatory spending. “I have a strong record of supporting veterans to ensure they have access to high-quality health care, opportunities to thrive after transitioning from the military, and protecting their Second Amendment rights,” Crapo said. “I too remain committed to Idaho veterans affected by burns and toxic exposure and will continue to support bipartisan legislation that can withstand the necessary fiscal standards to ensure solvency and resilience, not additional spending of funds for the American people “, he added. . Senator Thom Tillis (NC) Tillis told the Raleigh News Observer that he had doubts about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s ability to deal with backlogs and wait times for veterans seeking care. “Congress has an obligation to ensure that VA can effectively and efficiently implement any comprehensive toxic exposure legislation, and unfortunately, I continue to have reservations about the Department’s ability to do so,” he told the news outlet. The PACT Act will help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals at the North Carolina military bases Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) In a Facebook Live video Tuesday night, Lankford said the legislation “restricts access to outside doctors,” creating roadblocks for veterans who want to seek care outside the VA. “A lot of people want to go to a family doctor or someone who’s closer to them,” Lankford said. “With many areas in rural Oklahoma, people have to travel a long way to be able to get to a VA hospital, and I’m very passionate about getting them to one that’s close to them.” And like Tillis, the senator raised additional concerns about wait times, suggesting the bill would increase wait times at the VA and not address large backlogs for veterans seeking care. Senator Mike Lee (Utah) The Hill requested comment from Lee’s office. Of. Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.) On Tuesday night, Lummis said 168,000 vets were currently waiting for VA services, which she called “unacceptable.” “If we pass the PACT Act, as it stands, that number will exceed one million,” she tweeted, offering another bill from her colleague, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), that would allow veterans to seek care in facilities in their communities. Senator James Risch (Idaho) A spokesman for Reese’s office said the senator was a staunch supporter of veterans but did not support the $400 billion in mandatory spending. “Unfortunately, Democrats wrote in a $400 billion hole in the discretionary budget that can be filled with non-veteran-related spending,” the spokesman said. “It is inappropriate to use a veterans account as a backdoor to bring in huge amounts of irrelevant spending.” Late. Mitt Romney (Utah) Romney’s office pointed to comments the senator made in June about the legislation, when he expressed concerns about adding “hundreds of billions of dollars to the national debt” and implementing a “dramatic expansion of eligibility requirements that are not necessarily disability-related services.” “We absolutely must help veterans who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of toxic exposure during their service. However, the scope and cost of this bill is astronomical and unjustified,” he said, according to remarks provided to The Hill. “We have a collective responsibility to the veterans who have served our country, and I would support legislation that better targets disability eligibility requirements based on science and research,” the senator added. Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.) Shelby tweeted Tuesday night that he “remained a strong supporter of our veterans” but could not support the $400 billion mandatory spending provision. “The PACT Act would reallocate nearly $400 billion in VA funding, allowing Democrats to spend it on their liberal wish list,” he wrote. “I want to support the PACT Act, but this fiscal gimmick has to be fixed.” DeSantis says monkeypox worry overblown: ‘we’re not scared’ NotedDC — Kansas abortion vote shocks Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) In a Twitter thread Tuesday night, Tuberville said he was concerned about the “many provisions of the bill that require amendment to ensure VA can implement this law.” “I want to know that VA can implement this comprehensive bill in a fair and efficient manner, and at this time, I am not sure that is the case,” the senator wrote.
