Dear Friends,

On August 10, 2022, I joined President Biden at the White House for the signing of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This law is a critical way to fulfill our obligation to the men and women in uniform who risked life and limb in the service of this country. One year later, eligible veterans can access the expanded benefits to which they are entitled through the Honoring our PACT Act.
 
The deadline by which eligible veterans must file claims is August 9, 2023. These claims, if granted, will be paid with the effective date of the bill’s signing: August 10, 2022.

You can check your eligibility here. If you have previously submitted a claim for a condition now considered presumptive (meaning that it is assumed to have been caused by your service) and the claim is still pending, no new action is needed. If you were denied a claim for a condition now made presumptive by the PACT Act, you can file a supplemental claim here.

The Honoring our PACT Act added new presumptive conditions for radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War toxins, burn pit exposures and expanded benefit eligibility to nearly 3.5 million veterans. The legislation also expanded the enrollment period for post-9/11 veterans to enroll in Veterans Affairs benefits (VA) and authorized new VA medical and research centers.

I am proud of Connecticut’s three VA healthcare system bases and numerous outpatient clinics and vet centers, but there is more work to be done to truly honor our obligation to our servicemembers. Passing the PACT Act means that up to 10,000 Connecticut veterans facing toxic-exposure illnesses can now access the compensation and care they are rightfully owed. Rest assured that I will keep fighting until every veteran gets the care they deserve.

For more information on filing claims with the VA, or to access resources available to guide you through the process, please see here. For more information about the Honoring our PACT Act, see the Veterans’ Affairs resource page or call 1-800-MyVA411.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my Bridgeport office at 203-333-6600 if you need assistance navigating the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or have questions related to the expanded benefits offered through the PACT Act.

Sincerely,

Jim