Pelosi Statement on Senate Agreement on PACT Act

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the Senate reached bipartisan agreement on the PACT Act, which the House passed March 2nd. After the Senate passes the toxic exposures bill, the House will take it up.

"The Senate's bipartisan agreement on the House-passed Honoring our PACT Act is an important victory for America's veterans, their families and caregivers, and indeed for all of America. The PACT Act takes historic and life-saving action to honor our solemn obligation: that just as the military pledges to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind when they come home. As soon as the Senate passes this legislation, the House will move to take it up and send it to President Biden's desk for his signature.

"Meeting the needs of our veterans is a sacred obligation, and I thank President Biden, Chairs Mark Takano and Jon Tester, and countless veterans and VSOs for their years-long advocacy and commitment to caring for those who don the uniform. Toxic exposures are a cost of war, and we cannot pinch pennies when it comes to addressing the needs and honoring the service of our servicemembers.

"In March, led by Chairman Takano, the House passed the Honoring our PACT Act: a comprehensive bill that will finally and fully meet the moral and health challenge of toxic exposures for our veterans. We are pleased that the Senate has agreed to take up nearly identical legislation, which will be transformative – including by providing access to VA health care to 3.5 million potentially exposed Post-9/11 combat veterans and granting presumptions of exposure for veterans with rare cancers and other debilitating diseases. Proudly, this legislation includes the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which will allow veterans and their loved ones to seek damages related to injuries incurred while serving at Camp Lejeune."