 US President Joe Biden (photo: AFP/VNA) |
Mr Biden said this is the most significant law the US has ever passed to help millions of veterans who are exposed to toxic substances during their military services.
The bill adds conditions to the Department of Veterans Affairs list of illnesses that have been incurred or exacerbated during military service, removing the burden for veterans to prove their toxic exposure resulted in these conditions. It could provide coverage for up to 3.5 million toxin-exposed veterans.
The PACT Act of 2022 creates a framework for new standards regarding toxin exposure, which adds 23 diseases related to burning pits. The Act also covers Agent Orange/dioxin exposure in the Vietnam War of veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Guam.