Brown will be joined by Susan Zeier, the mother-in-law of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson. The legislation is named after 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. He will also be joined by veteran advocates from around the region.
Members of Congress are prohibited from using official resources to promote commercial endeavors. Cartwright can be seen in the video wearing his official Congressional lapel pin.
Cartwright praised law firm Parker Waichman and its partner Jerry Parker in July TV ads that have since been pulled by the firm, Axios reported Thursday. Cartwright’s appearance in the ads may violate ethics rules because he gave his “endorsement” of Parker and used House resources to “support” the firm, watchdog Functional Government Initiative (FGI) wrote in a complaint Monday to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).
The PACT Act is the result of years of effort by Brown, veterans, and advocates to ensure that veterans who were exposed to dangerous chemicals could get disability compensation and health treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"We will really need your help communicating because we want every veteran, every single veteran to get the care they need and the benefits they deserve, the benefits they have earned, and we will not rest until they do," McDonough said.
McDonough announced VA will make all conditions outlined in the PACT Act presumptive from the date President Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10. The initial plan was to phase-in conditions over the next few years, but the secretary said those in need have waited too long.
On this edition of Your Call, we're discussing the PACT Act, a law that will expand healthcare and disability benefits to nearly 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. It took former Daily Show host Jon Stewart to give this issue high profile attention and shame Republicans into voting for the bill.
On Sept. 10, at 9 a.m., a meeting will be held at VFW Post 4911, 2632 Cedartown Highway, to offer details about the government’s new settlement program for those who have been affected by toxic chemicals in the water at the Marine Corps base in North Carolina.
Since November 2021, Freeman has been referred to and seen specialists in neurology, urology, nephrology, gynecology, dermatology, occupational medicine, pelvic therapy and genetic counseling, she said. A dormant, preexisting seizure disorder flared up for Freeman in the wake of the fuel contamination, and she began suffering from multiple seizures a day.
My opponent actually voted against covering service-related illnesses for our veterans because it would balloon the deficit. I’m not sure the congressman understands. We only have a country, an economy and a deficit because of our veterans. That was one of the more disgusting arguments I’ve heard,” said Amanda Waldman of the Hughesville area, which is outside the ninth district.