Today Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined veterans and their families at the annual VFW Department of New Hampshire State Picnic hosted by VFW Post 816 in Littleton. Kuster spoke to veterans and their families and discussed the Honoring Our PACT Act, recently signed into law, to expand access to comprehensive care for millions of veterans exposed to toxins during their service.

“It was an absolutely beautiful day in Littleton to honor the men and women who serve our nation in uniform and discuss how we can work together to support our Granite State veterans and their families,” said Rep. Kuster. “We ask so much of those who serve our nation and it is essential that we work to ensure they are able to access the services and care they need when they return home. The best way to know what the needs in our veteran community are is to hear directly from our Granite State veterans  about their experience at the VA and how we can strengthen services. I’m proud that we’ve taken concrete steps in Congress to improve care for our veterans with the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act and I am committed to working with Republicans and Democrats to build on this progress. Thank you to VFW Post 816 for hosting today’s picnic and everyone who joined to honor our veterans.” 

Kuster was proud to help pass the Honoring Our PACT Act. This comprehensive, bipartisan legislation finally recognizes military toxic exposure — from contaminated water at military bases, airborne hazards from burn pits, agent orange in and beyond Vietnam, or radiation from atomic testing — and provides health care for as many as 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins. The Honoring Our PACT Act builds on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which Kuster helped introduce and pass last Congress, to expand benefits to 90,000 Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during their service in the coastal waters of Vietnam. 

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