A key debate over expanded veterans healthcare benefits has ended, and what’s known as the PACT Act has passed the US Senate.
The chamber passed the measure by an 86-11 vote, sending the bill to President Joe Biden for a likely signature. The PACT Act expands free health care for roughly 3.5 milion veterans exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Initially, the bill passed the Senate with 84 votes, but a technicality forced a second vote — where only 55 votes supported the bill. Twenty-five Republican Senators, including Roger Marshall of Kansas, changed their initial votes on the bill, saying language in the bill opens the door for Democrats to spend up to $400 billion on priorities unrelated to veterans. Marshall and other Republicans changed course again Tuesday. He says he was “proud to support final passage” even though Republicans “came up short to address the budgetary issue.” He also says he wants to ensure all the PACT Act dollars are spent on veterans.
Earlier this week, US Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas urged other lawmakers to pass the bill, saying it was their duty as lawmakers to move the bill forward and thus honor the service of veterans.
11 am Tuesday: Moran, Marshall taking different avenues towards passage of PACT Act
The state’s US Senate delegation is not approaching a major piece of veterans’ legislation in the same way.
Jerry Moran is urging fellow Senators to pass the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act, also known as the PACT Act, and he’s urging Senators who changed their votes to reconsider — especially if they originally supported the bill and no longer do.
Initially, the bill passed the Senate with 84 votes, but a technicality forced a second vote — where only 55 votes supported the bill. Sixty are needed to pass.
Roger Marshall is among the 25 Republican Senators who originally supported the bill but recently voted against it after the technicality developed. Marshall, a veteran of the US Army Reserve, and other Republicans who changed their votes say language in the bill opens the door for Democrats to spend up to $400 billion on priorities unrelated to veterans — something Democrats hotly deny. Marshall and the other Republicans say they want to address the budgetary issue and will vote in favor once that’s handled.
The PACT Act expands free health care for roughly 3.5 milion veterans exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
