The Senate on Tuesday passed a law expanding care for veterans suffering from illnesses caused by exposure to toxins during military service, ending a stalemate after Republicans blocked the bill last week.
Sergeant. 1st Class Heath Robinson honors promises to address the Comprehensive Toxicity Act, passed by an 86-11 vote, and seeks to extend benefits from the VA to his 3.5 million veterans. increase.
The bill is now going to President Biden’s desk and he is expected to sign it.
In a statement shortly after the bill was passed, Mr Biden said, “We will never be able to fully repay the enormous debt we owe to the people in uniform, but today the United States Congress is taking important steps to fulfill this sacred duty. ,” he said.
“I have long said that as a nation we have many duties, but we have only one sacred duty: prepare and equip those we send to war, and when they return home they “I look forward to signing this bill so we can help veterans, their families, and the effects of toxic Received caregivers will ultimately receive the benefits and comprehensive care they have received.”
Tuesday’s vote came after Senate Republicans unexpectedly blocked the bill in a procedural vote last week. The Senate on Wednesday voted in favor of the bill 55-42, falling short of his 60-vote threshold needed to overcome the filibuster. The 25 Republicans who originally voted to advance the bill in June changed their votes.
The Senate passed the bill in June by a vote of 84-14, and the House passed it in July by a bipartisan vote of 342-88. The House version included changes, so the bill had to go back to the Senate.
Republicans say the bill would create a “budget gimmick” by shifting the $400 billion spent by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) into mandatory spending, much like discretionary spending. It is not subject to annual expenditure.
Early Tuesday, Republican senators agreed to vote on three amendments, requiring 60 votes to pass the bill, followed by a vote on final passage of the bill.
Groups of veterans have been camping outside the Capitol since Thursday to pressure the Senate to pass legislation. The same veterans, joined by comedian Jon Stewart, sat in the Senate Gallery to watch the vote.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (DN.Y.) thanked his supporters for their efforts and said, “You can go home knowing the good and the great things you have done for America.” said.
In addition to expanding veteran eligibility for poison-exposed veterans, the legislation adds 23 burn- and poison-exposure-related relationships to the agency’s list of presumed service relationships.
The bill also extends presumptions about exposure to Vietnam War-era Agent Orange to veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Guam.
8:14pm update
