A bipartisan veterans health care bill, known as the PACT Act, failed to pass in the U.S. Senate last month. Despite the initiative succeeding 84-14 in June, a technical error forced a second vote in July,and the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass the filibuster.
U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; Roy Blunt R-Mo.; and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., voted against the bill, which would remove the burden of proof for ill veterans who were exposed to harmful toxins while serving overseas.
Patrick Murray, director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Service, said Republicans are buying into misinformation that unchecked spending was added to the bill, and challenged individuals to read the bills for themselves.
Air Force veteran Brooklynne Mosley said she's disappointed the bill hasn't passed.
"We tend to hand over blank checks when it comes to fighting wars," Mosley said. "But when it comes to taking care of the people who are part of those wars, we usually we start counting our change and trying to figure out if we have it."
On Tuesday afternoon, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Senate would vote on the PACT Act at 5 p.m. EST. The bill is expected to pass.
- Brooklynne Mosley, veteran, U.S. Air Force
- Patrick Murray, director national legislative service, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
