Nashua, N.H. — Today, U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02), alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined President Biden in Nashua to mark one million approved claims under the PACT Act, including more than 4,300 Granite State veterans. A historic and landmark piece of legislation, the PACT Act was signed into law in 2022 and expanded health care and benefits for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. As a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Hassan helped develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which Shaheen and Kuster both supported. Photos from the event can be found here. 

“As the daughter of a World War II veteran and prisoner of war, I am deeply committed to advocating for our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Our veterans deserve the best possible care – and the Honoring Our PACT Act is helping us live up to that promise. I was proud to lead the charge in Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation, and I applaud President Biden’s commitment to supporting our veterans and their families and ensuring they can access the health care they need and deserve.”

“For nearly two years, the historic PACT Act has made it possible for more veterans to get the care they need for conditions and illnesses related to toxic exposure during their military service,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was glad to join President Biden here in Nashua to mark this momentous occasion and to thank our veterans and those who work every day in the Granite State to ensure that veterans receive the care and benefits they’ve earned over their years of service.”

“It was great to welcome President Biden back to New Hampshire to celebrate the one millionth PACT Act claim’s approval – which means more veterans are getting access to the benefits they have earned and deserved after exposure to toxic substances during their service,” said Senator Hassan. “I was proud to help develop and pass into law the bipartisan PACT Act. This legislation not only delivers care and benefits to veterans, but it also demonstrates the power of a democracy in which the voices of veterans and their family members are heard. I will keep working to address the priorities of New Hampshire service members and veterans.”

The PACT Act is one of the largest health care and benefit expansions in VA history. The law expands eligibility for VA health benefits for Vietnam, Gulf War and post 9/11 era veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances and provides for toxic exposure screenings to veterans. It codifies more than 20 respiratory conditions and cancers as connected to burn pits, meaning veterans with those illnesses are automatically eligible for care. Additionally, the law increases training and research into the issue, particularly among veterans who served in the Gulf War and post-9/11. For more than a year, Senator Hassan and fellow members of the Senate and House veterans committees worked together with the VA and Veterans Service Organizations to craft this bill. The legislation includes provisions from the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act that Senators Hassan and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced.

Shaheen and Hasan have long championed and supported measures to help veterans who’ve been exposed to toxic or hazardous materials. On the one-year anniversary of the PACT Act being signed into law, Shaheen hosted a panel discussion in Manchester with the Directors of the Manchester and White River Junction Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers, the Regional Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the Director of the Division of Veterans Services at the New Hampshire Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services. 

In the fiscal year (FY) 2020 defense bill that was signed into law, Shaheen supported a provision addressing the health evaluations of service members who have been exposed to open burn pits or toxic airborne chemicals. Open burn bits were used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the FY2021 NDAAthat became law, Shaheen also supported an amendment offered by Senator Tester (D-MT) that would require the VA to provide benefits for veterans suffering from four diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In addition, Shaheen cosponsored the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which was signed into law in 2019 and created a permanent legislative fix to help ensure “Blue Water” Navy veterans get the disability and health care benefits they deserve as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

###