Senate approves sweeping expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
CAMP PENDLETON, CA - JANUARY 24: (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images) WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday approved a sweeping expansion of health care and disability benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits.Passage of the bill by a vote of 84-14 sets a course that could help millions who served after Sept.
11, 2001, and caps years of advocacy work by veterans groups and others who liken burn pits to the Agent Orange herbicide that Vietnam era veterans were exposed to in Southeast Asia.The bill is projected to increase federal spending by about $283 billion over 10 years and does not include offsetting spending cuts or tax increases to help pay for it.
The House in March approved similar legislation that would have cost more than $320 billion over 10 years.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after Senate passage that the House would "move swiftly" to take up the legislation and send it to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Biden has encouraged the effort. In a statement after the vote, Biden said the bill "makes good on our sacred obligation to care for veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors." He urged the House to act quickly "so I can sign it into law right away."RELATED: WWII D-Day veterans honored in DC on 78th anniversary of invasion of NormandyThe military routinely used open burn pits set ablaze with jet fuel to dispose of tires, batteries, medical waste and other materials during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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