Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Votes to Honor America’s Promise to Toxic-Exposed Veterans

March 3, 2022 – Today, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick voted for the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (“Honoring our PACT”) Act, a comprehensive and bipartisan legislative package to provide access to VA health care and benefits to millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances and finally recognize toxic exposures as a cost of war that must be covered.

“When America sent our Servicemembers into harm’s way, we made a promise to care for them when they returned home,” said Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “Today, I proudly voted to keep that promise with the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act, which will finally recognize exposure to dangerous toxins as a cost of war. This critical legislation will ensure that all veterans exposed to toxic substances in the line of duty can access the care and benefits they earned in service to our nation.”

Recognizing the harms inflicted by exposure to burn pits and airborne hazards, the Honoring our PACT Act will enable potentially 3.5 million veterans to access critical health benefits. By codifying a presumption that Servicemembers stationed in certain theatres at particular times were exposed to toxic substances, this legislation will shift the burden of proof off of veterans and their loved ones and ease access to care for a broad array of conditions and cancers. Additionally, the Honoring our PACT Act will streamline the VA’s process for establishing toxic exposure presumptions, ensuring that veterans do not have to wait decades for help.

The Honoring our PACT Act is overwhelmingly supported by the veteran community, including Burn Pits 360 and 42 Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion (TAL), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) and Minority Veterans of America (MVA).

“Toxic-exposed veterans held up their end of the deal – it's time Congress did the same,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick. “With the Honoring our PACT Act, America will honor our sacred promise to Florida’s veterans and commit to paying for the true cost of war.”

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