Photo credit Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Department of Veterans Affairs was center stage Dec. 10 - 17, as it hosted a Week of Action to inform veterans, their families, and survivors about the PACT Act and encourage them to apply for the health care and benefits they have earned.
During the week, VA hosted more than 110 PACT Act Week of Action events across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
At the events, veterans applied for benefits, got screened for toxic exposures, enrolled in VA health care, and learned more about what the PACT Act could mean for them and their families.
“Passing the PACT Act was the first step of making sure that we leave no one behind. I’m urging all veterans of these decades of war to enroll in the VA healthcare to get screening for toxic exposure and to promptly file your claim,” President Joe Biden said during a PACT Act Town Hall in New Castle, Delaware on Dec. 16.
Biden signed the sweeping legislation, which expands opportunities for VA health care and benefits to the roughly 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits and airborne toxins during their service across all eras, on Aug. 10.
In a statement, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the week was all about educating veterans, their families and survivors and encouraging them to apply for the benefits they’ve earned.
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"There are millions of veterans and survivors across America who are eligible for new health care and benefits, and we will not rest until every one of them gets what they’ve earned,” he said.
During the Week of Action, more than 160,000 veterans were screened for toxic exposures. Additionally, nearly 15,000 veterans applied for PACT Act-related benefits – a nearly 40% increase over the previous week.
In all more than 200,000 veterans have applied for PACT Act-related benefits and more than 820,000 veterans have received toxic exposure screenings, with nearly 39% reporting a concern of exposure.
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Veterans and survivors can apply or learn more about the PACT Act by visiting here or by calling 1-800-MYVA411.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.