Chairman Hinojosa Applauds President Biden and Texas Democrats, Veterans, and Advocates for Delivering the PACT Act
Legislation will provide lifesaving support for Texas veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits – Senators Cruz and Cornyn had to be nationally shamed into switching their vote in favor of the bill – Not one single Texas House Republican voted for the bill
AUSTIN, Texas -- Today, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa released the following statement applauding President Biden and Texas House Democrats, veterans, and advocates on delivering the PACT Act – the largest single bill ever to comprehensively address exposure to burn pits, and the biggest expansion of VA health care in decades.
“We owe so much to our veterans – their bravery and courage allows us the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. We make a pact with these heroes that after they return home from their service to our country, we will in turn give them the care they need and deserve. With the President signing into law the PACT Act – a bill that was the result of years of tireless work by Texas Democrats, veterans, and advocates – we have come one step closer to upholding our end of that bargain.
“No words can express the proper amount of shame that all Texas House Republicans should feel today, not one of whom voted for the bill. We as a Party also – sadly – owe a debt of gratitude to Jon Stewart and other national voices for shaming our state’s cowardly Republican senators into switching their votes on the PACT Act.
“But today, let’s forget about these worthless Republican politicians for a moment and recognize the enormous success we have achieved for our veterans. Thank you to President Biden – as well as Texas House Democrats, veterans, and advocates – for their relentless work to help Texas’ finest men and women. This is a monumental day.”
About the PACT Act – and its impact on Texas:
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 will expand access to VA health care and benefits for toxic exposed veterans and their survivors, improve care and increase research related to toxic exposures, and provide VA with important resources to serve veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.
According to the Military Times, the PACT Act “is the culmination of years of work by advocates to improve health care and benefits for veterans suffering injuries from burn pit smoke, Agent Orange spraying and other military contaminant exposure. It has been widely celebrated as a potential landmark legislative victory in veterans policy.”
The outlet went on to write that “about one in five living American veterans could benefit from the PACT Act.”
Texas has one of the highest veteran populations in the entire country. Veterans across the state expressed their outrage at their Republican leaders in Washington failing them so dramatically – the signing of this bill comes after a national shame campaign to convince Senators Cruz and Cornyn to reverse course and switch their votes on the bill (and after Senator Cruz fist-bumped his colleague on the Senate floor after their votes against the bill).
Not one single Texas House Republican voted for the PACT Act.