President Joe Biden has scheduled a visit to Utah to meet with veterans and military families on the anniversary of the bipartisan PACT Act. The PACT Act, a law that was enacted a year ago, aimed to expand health benefits for veterans who were harmed by toxins during their active duty service. In commemoration of this important legislation, Biden will be delivering a speech at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, shedding light on the ongoing impact of the law.
The PACT Act, also known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, was named in honor of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, an Army combat medic who tragically lost his life to a rare form of lung cancer. The law has had tremendous positive effects, including providing veterans and their survivors with over $1.85 billion in earned benefits. It has also boosted the availability of toxicity screenings and introduced various additional services for veterans, such as job placement assistance, mental health care access, and legal and financial support. The Biden administration aims to continue enhancing the support and benefits provided to veterans and their families.
