Pact Act: Law Enforcement And The Vaping Industry

The PACT Act, or the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, was signed into law by President Biden on August 8, 2022. The Act expands healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 operations.

The PACT Act is considered the largest healthcare and benefit expansion in VA history. It adds over 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures, and expands presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation. It also establishes 31 new VA healthcare facilities and grants VA health enrollment eligibility to veterans deployed to certain areas of known exposure.

Veterans and survivors who meet the criteria outlined in the PACT Act can file claims immediately.

The PACT Act expands eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras

The PACT Act, or the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It is one of the most extensive healthcare and benefit expansion efforts ever put forth by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11
• Veterans who deployed in support of the Global War on Terror
• Veterans exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service at home or abroad

The Act also adds more than 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures, and adds more presumptive exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.

• VA will streamline the process for determining medical conditions eligible for presumptive status
• Enrolled veterans will undergo an initial toxic exposure screening and subsequent screenings every five years
• Eligible but unenrolled veterans will have the chance to enroll and undergo screening
• The Act mandates research studies on Gulf War and Post-9/11 Veteran mortality, health trends, and cancer rates
• It authorizes the establishment of 31 new VA facilities nationwide, enhancing access to VA health care

The PACT Act is expected to spread VA benefits to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins. It ensures that veterans receive easy access to high-quality health care and services connected to potential toxic exposure.

The PACT Act adds 20+ presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures

The PACT Act, or Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It is considered to be the largest healthcare and benefit expansion in VA history.

• Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
• Head cancer of any type
• Lymphoma of any type
• Neck cancer of any type
• Reproductive cancer of any type
• Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
• Asthma that was diagnosed after service
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
• Granulomatous disease
• Interstitial lung disease (ILD)

The Act also adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.

The PACT Act requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care

The PACT Act, or The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history.

The screening will ask veterans if they think they were exposed to any of the following hazards while serving:

• Open burn pits and other airborne hazards
• Gulf War-related exposures
• Camp Lejeune contaminated water exposure

Veterans who aren't enrolled but meet eligibility requirements can enroll and receive the screening. All enrolled veterans should receive the screening at least once every five years.

The PACT Act will also:

• Expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures and veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
• Add 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures
• Add more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
• Help improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures

The PACT Act helps improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures

The PACT Act, or the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 8, 2022. It is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.

The PACT Act will improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures by:

• Authorizing 31 new facilities across the country, providing greater access to VA health care.
• Conducting research studies on the mortality of veterans who served in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War, post-9/11 veteran health trends, and veteran cancer rates.
• Providing toxic exposure-related education and training for VA health care staff and claims processors.
• Establishing an interagency working group on toxic exposure research, including members from the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant federal entities.
• Conducting an epidemiological study on the health trends of post-9/11 veterans, including assessments of race, age, period and length of service, military occupational specialty, and disability status.
• Conducting a toxicology study to replicate toxic exposures of healthy, young members of the Armed Forces, as well as potentially susceptible members with pre-existing health conditions.
• Conducting a study on the feasibility and advisability of furnishing hospital care and medical services to dependents of veterans who participated in toxic exposure risk activities.
• Conducting a study on the health effects of waste related to the Manhattan Project on certain veterans.
• Conducting a study on toxic exposure and mental health outcomes, including assessments of race and ethnicity, period and length of service, history of toxic exposure, any diagnosis of chronic multisymptom illness, any mental health or cognitive disorder, and any history of suicide attempts.
• Conducting a study on veterans in the Territories of the United States, including an analysis of the number of veterans in each territory, the number of veterans enrolled in the VA's patient enrollment system, and the number of veterans eligible for services but not enrolled.
• Establishing a public website for toxic exposure research, serving as a clearinghouse for all toxic exposure research carried out or funded by the executive branch of the federal government.
• Conducting biennial reports on the health effects of jet fuels used by the Armed Forces.
• Providing education and training for VA health care personnel to identify, treat, and assess the impact of toxic exposures on veterans, as well as how to ask for additional information from veterans regarding different toxic exposures.
• Developing a standard training curriculum for claims processors who review claims for disability benefits related to toxic exposure.
• Incorporating a clinical questionnaire to help determine potential toxic exposures during a veteran's initial screening appointment with a primary care provider.
• Establishing guidelines to provide members of the Armed Forces with awareness of the potential risks of toxic exposures and ways to prevent exposure during combat.

The PACT Act establishes presumptive conditions and locations associated with herbicide exposure

The PACT Act, or the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The Act adds more than 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. It also adds more presumptive exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.

The Act establishes presumptive conditions for toxic exposure, including:

• Gastrointestinal cancer of any type
• Head cancer of any type
• Lymphoma of any type
• Neck cancer of any type
• Reproductive cancer of any type
• Respiratory (breathing-related) cancer of any type
• Asthma that was diagnosed after service
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Constrictive bronchiolitis or obliterative bronchiolitis
• Granulomatous disease
• Interstitial lung disease (ILD)

The Act also establishes presumptive exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation, including:

• Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976
• Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969
• Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off of Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980
• Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977

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