Republicans’ fault

As a Vietnam Vet I believe that all veterans, particularly victims of burn pits used in Iraq and Afghanistan, should understand how Republican politicians’ concern for veterans has changed over the past 30 years.

Thirty-one years ago the Democratic-controlled Congress unanimously passed the Agent Orange Act. It was signed into law by Republican President Bush, himself a veteran of World War II. There are 15 diseases attributed to Agent Orange, a toxic herbicide. I, along with thousands of others, have benefited from the care given to us by the Veteran’s Administration.

Burn pits have proved to be just as disabling for veterans who were exposed to them. From 2007 to 2020, the V.A. denied 78% of claims made by victims of burn pits with little political action to rectify that failure. One Democratic-led House bill in 2018 died, while the Republican-led Senate never considered any action on burn pits.

Finally, in the spring of 2022, the Democratic- controlled House of Representatives passed the Pact Act bill that included veterans exposed to burn pits, by a vote of 256 to 174, with all Democratic members voting in favor, and 174 Republicans voting no. The Bill also passed the Senate by a vote of 86 to 11. All Democratic senators voted yes, 11 Republicans voted no. President Biden signed it into law on August 10, 2022.

To repeat the obvious, elections have consequences for veterans.

DAVID HAYES Pittsburgh