Brown Has Long Fought for Benefits for Veterans Who Experienced Toxic Exposure; Discusses New PACT Act with Veterans and Advocates
WILMINGTON, OH – October 25, 2022 – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable with local veterans, including veterans who have been harmed by exposure to toxic burn pits, to discuss the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that was recently signed into law by President Biden.
“This law is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country’s history,” said Brown. “This is a cost of going to war. If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions.”
The legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.
Brown was joined by veterans who have been exposed to, and affected by, burn pits during their military service. Local advocates also joined the roundtable discussion.
“We will continue to serve the veterans of the county by maintaining our accreditations and training with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services that will provide us with the knowledge and updates on the new PACT Act to effectively be of service,” said Jeff Rollins, Executive Director of the Clinton County Veterans’ Service Commission.
The PACT Act is the result of a years-long fight by Brown, veterans and advocates to secure access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and disability benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals. He now is working with Ohio veterans, their families and advocates to bring additional attention to provisions in the PACT Act so veterans can get the care they’ve earned and deserve.