Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. And theyre doing so over Republican pushback. This is exactly how it played out as the final vote was Robinson died in 2020 of a rare lung cancer he attributed to smoke exposure during his deployment in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. I don't think my runtime has ever recovered. But supporters of the bill noted that Republicans had previously supported the measures mandatory spending. There is a mechanism created in this bill, its a budgetary gimmick, that has the intent of making it possible to have a huge explosion in unrelated spending $400 billion, Toomey claimed on the Senate floor Wednesday. The PACT Act would reclassify nearly $400 billion in VA funding, allowing Dems to instead spend that on their liberal wish list, he wrote. These are all the Republican Senators who voted "Well, screw that, they don't support veterans. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said that he supports the substance of the bill, but not the "accounting gimmick," and accused Sen. A bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down yesterday in the Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote that failed to meet the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance the legislation. Confirm Anthony Johnstone to the Ninth Circuit, More than 800,000 could flee Sudan amid fighting, UN warns, Biden: Taxpayers not on the hook for First Republic failure, How an Uncommon Table can help bring our divided nation together, passed the Honoring Our PACT Act on Tuesday, Cardin wont seek reelection, opening up Maryland Senate seat, Schumer announces Senate hearings to expose GOP debt limit bill starting this week, EXCLUSIVE: Biden pick to head National Highway Traffic Safety Administration faces GOP roadblock, Montana legislator sues House speaker over censure, Supreme Court to consider overruling Chevron doctrine, McConnell insists hes sitting out debt talks to disbelief, Tucker Carlson, on leaked video, derides Fox streaming service, Senate rankings: Here are the 5 seats most likely to flip. Many veterans come home suffering from serious short- and long-termillnessesrelated to this kind of exposure to toxic substances. At Vox, we believe that everyone deserves access to information that helps them understand and shape the world they live in. NOW WATCH: Meet the Republicans who are Trump's likely successors. "I'm not sure I've ever seen a situation where people who have already given so much had to fight so hard to get so little," he said after the vote. Unfortunately, 25 Senators recently voted to block the passage of the PACT Act. I just can't take a deep breath anymore.". "Promises were made and promises were broken," said Kristina Keenan of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. "The American people are sick and tired of the games that go on in this body. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. Apr. 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 scientific evidence and research, the senator added. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. Remember that along with all the ones that voted against the PACT Act. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The vote came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday afternoon that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had come to an agreement. Activists had spent a dozen years campaigning for such an expansion a period during which they lost many of their own, including Sgt. During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped.". Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified. We should absolutely help veterans who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of toxic exposure during their service. The bill will fund research and benefits for as many as 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during service. Veterans groups, family members, longtime advocate Jon Stewart and several Democratic lawmakers gathered outside the U.S. Capitol after the vote on Thursday to voice their outrage. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The plus side is that PACT ACT: Senators, congressmen voted no. Actions speak louder than words, and you just showed us who you are. "Every single one has pictures with veterans on their Facebook pages, on their websites," said Susan Zeier, Heath Robinson's mother-in-law, outside the Capitol as her 9-year-old granddaughter wept nearby. Second of all, youve got no choice, right? Eleven Republican senators voted Tuesday against a bipartisan measure, the PACT Act, that is designed to help veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while deployed abroad. The legislation will expand benefits for an estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The change effectively lifts a barrier for veterans seeking benefits for toxic exposure. "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. May 1 (UPI) -- Part of a string of tit-for-tat actions involving central Florida's major theme park, a regional board on Monday said it would sue Disney over the company's parallel action against Gov. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Toomey argues that this changed designation frees up funds that could be used on items unrelated to veterans. We CANNOT trust the same extreme MAGA Republicans who voted against PACT ACT vets cancer care to fund it - they wont! Stewart noted at one point that the lawmakers being addressed were likely indoors enjoying air conditioning, ignoring the veterans at least one of whom was wearing an oxygen tube braving the scorching heat for over an hour to try to make their point. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania has objected since June to a provision in the legislation language that would move $400 billion in preexisting discretionary veterans spending to make it mandatory spending. Veterans would not have to prove that their illnesses are directly related to burn pit exposure to receive disability payments and assistance. ", In an eleventh-hour act of cowardice, Republicans chose today to rob generations of toxic-exposed veterans across this country of the health care and benefits they've earned and so desperately need.Make no mistakethe American people are sick and tired of these games. The bill initially passed the House and Senate in June, but due to a snag in the language, it had to go back to the House and Senate before it could be sent to President Biden's desk. Twenty-five Republican senators who had voted for the bill in June voted against advancing the bill last week, citing an objection to how the legislation is paid for. Can you donate $3 right now to help Daily Kos keep fighting? ", Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal had a message for the Department of Veterans Affairs Tuesday night: "I have a message to the VA: You better get it right. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. After days of backlash, lawmakers are set to reconsider the bill in a Senate vote this week, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell telling NBC News that he expects it will pass. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said in a statement that the "charitable explanation" is that Republicans simply changed their minds, with the alternative being that they "are mad that Democrats are on the verge of passing climate change legislation and have decided to take out their anger on vulnerable veterans.". We CANNOT trust the same extreme MAGA Republicans who voted against PACT ACT vets cancer care to fund it - they wont! On Tuesday night, Lummis said 168,000 vets were currently waiting for VA services, which she called unacceptable.. The Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly approved the PACT Act, Twenty-five Republican senators who had voted for the bill in June voted against The bill will remove the burden of proof from veterans seeking care for conditions related to exposure from burn pits by presuming a number of conditions, including several cancers, are related to the exposure. Of the 42 senators who voted against the PACT Act, 41 were Republicans. / CBS News. We don't have billionaire backers like some right-wing media outlets. ", We'll never be able to repay the debt we owe to those who have worn the uniform, but today, Congress delivered on a promise to our veterans and their families.The PACT Act will be the biggest expansion of VA health care in decades. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. pic.twitter.com/w2ZUcGzGpT. First Class Heath Robinson, hugs Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) during Thursday's news conference. Actions speak louder than words, and you just showed us who you are. These 41 Senate Republicans Voted Against Veterans - N Watching the final vote from the Senate gallery Tuesday night, comedian Jon Stewart, a vocal advocate for the bill and veterans, could be seen with tears in his eyes. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. WebRT @sfpelosi: Extreme MAGA Republicans say they love our vets til its time to honor their service by funding their earned benefits. April 26 (UPI) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that more than 500,000 claims have been filed since President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law in August. McCarthy to Russian reporter: I do not support what your country has done to Saudi alfalfa sparks tension in Arizonas Sonoran Desert. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare . 26 Apr 2023 18:18:55 So, I voted yes on a procedural vote to allow the Senate to begin debate on the bill. McConnell vowed not to allow a bipartisan technology bill championed by Schumer, the CHIPS Act, to clear the Senate so long as the proposal that became the Inflation Reduction Act was on the table. Foreclosures are up. That's how we see this discussion and this debate.". The PACT Act also provides toxic exposure screenings for veterans. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. "Advocates died fighting for this bill. These are the Republican Senators who voted against the bill: Only one Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted against the bill. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. WASHINGTON - Eleven Republicans voted Tuesday against a billthat fundsresearch and benefits for as much as 3.5 million veterans who were impacted by toxic substances while they served. You just gave tax cuts in 2017 to the richest people in America. A spokesperson for Rischs office said the senator was a strong supporter of veterans but did not support the $400 billion in mandatory spending. Updated on: August 3, 2022 / 8:08 AM PACT ACT explained:What's the PACT Act? https://newsweek.com/why-veteran-health-care-bill-was-smacked-down-republicans-1729230 YOU need to stop the lying. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), who led opposition to the bill, expressed his desire for an amendment focused on budgetary spending. Maybe Manchin can also explain why they arent getting the child tax credit anymore. The measure was sent to the White House after Republicans had blocked the legislation last week, objecting to the inclusion of $400 billion in mandatory spending that would not be subject to annual appropriations review unlike the usual discretionary spending for federal agencies and programs that Congress reviews and approves annually. #ProtectVeteransHealthCare. First Class Heath Robinson, for whom the bill is named. Republicans are mad that Democrats are on the verge of passing climate change legislation and have decided to take out their anger on vulnerable veterans, Murphy argued. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others attend a news conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the day after Senate Republicans blocked a procedural vote to advance PACT Act. Steve Daines and Roger Wicker voted against the bill after not voting in June. May 1 (UPI) -- First Republic Bank was sold Monday to JPMorgan Chase, as regulators seek to calm a turbulent banking sector that has seen three U.S. banks fail in less than two months. Jayapal backs Lee in California Senate race, Two hospitals may have violated federal law in denying woman an emergency abortion, HHS says, Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan Club. In a statement, the senator said he is committed to ensuring health and disability benefits are provided to veterans exposed to toxic substances while on their tours of duty.. But, last week more than two dozen Republicans who voted for the bill in June voted against advancing it this time. Schumer has said he would schedule another procedural vote for Monday. Unfortunately, Democrats wrote in a $400 billion hole in the discretionary budget they can fill with spending totally unrelated to veterans, the spokesperson said. "The Veterans Health Administration welcomed 27,181 new hires in the first six months of the fiscal year, the highest hiring level in history," the VA said. Stewart also warned of rumored amendments from people like Illinois Republican paper-punchingbezerker man Rep. Mike Bost, who might try to plead poverty in order to put a Band-Aid where real comprehensive treatment was needed. Currently, more than 70 percent of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA due to veterans inability to prove their illnesses or cancers are linked to exposure to burn pits. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has been leading opposition to the bill, and voted against it both times. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. When we decide we need to engage and initiate in a military action, we should understand that the cost is not just in our defense budget, but also in our veterans budget when they come home. In fact, Pelosi went on, the cost of this bill is a fraction if we're talking budget of the cost of the Republican tax bill that they passed in 2017, which added $2 trillion to the national debt. "This budgetary gimmick is so unrelated to the actual veterans' issue that has to do with burn pits, that it's not even in the House version of this bill.". While not all Republican senators who voted against the bill talked publicly about why they did so, Republican Senator Toomey said on the Senate floor that he voted against the bill because it would create $400 billion in unrelated spending. Nevertheless, senators voted for the measure overwhelmingly. Donald Trump's attorney calls for mistrial in E. Jean Carroll case. Stewart, Bost did try to push that amendment and Bost didnt vote for the bill, saying the increased spending of $208 billion over the next 10years was. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. The legislation again passed the House but failed to advance beyond a procedural vote in the Senate last week. The Democratic candidate for an open Senate seat in Missouri, Lucas Kunce, echoed the sentiment in an interview with Vox. The 86-to-11 vote was received with cheers from the Senate gallery. Democrats argued the GOP was shifting its position because it was unhappy with a separate deal worked out by Sens. Stewart, the former talk show host who's become a high-profile veterans advocate, lambasted the Republican senators in a furious, expletive-laden speech. May 1 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden will welcome dozens of small business owners to the White House Monday to highlight private sector economic growth under his legislative agenda. Something went wrong. I just can't take a deep breath anymore.". Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, Supreme Court to hear case that could curb power of federal agencies, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Waiter killed, woman wounded in shooting at popular New Orleans restaurant, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, Senate passes aid for vets harmed by burn pits, Senate passes aid for veterans harmed by burn pits.
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