Veterans groups fear toxic exposure legislation doomed to fail

The Senate last week passed the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. The legislation will provide Department of Veterans Affairs care and benefits to veterans experiencing adverse health effects from toxic exposure.

The long-awaited legislation has disappointed many, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who drafted portions of its text. Tillis said he did not vote for the PACT Act because the VA does not have “the capacity to properly implement” it. He fears the legislation could lead to “increased wait times, delays in receiving care, and a substantial increase in the claims backlog.”