Toxic Exposure Fund Overhaul Proposal Ignites Debate over PACT Act Benefits

As reported March 21 by Rebecca Kheel for Military Times, a House GOP proposal to retool the Toxic Exposures Fund — a pot of money created by the PACT Act to pay healthcare and disability benefits to troops exposed to toxic substances — drew fierce pushback Thursday from the VA and Democrats. Republicans maintain their proposed legislation aims to fix a problem that few dispute: Toxic Exposures Fund rules are projected to increase mandatory federal spending on other veterans bills unrelated to toxic exposure, which in turn could make it harder for Congress to pass legislation that affects veterans. But Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to undermine the PACT Act’s guarantee of healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxins during their military service, and VA officials testified during a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill that they oppose the GOP’s proposal, called the Toxic Exposure Fund Improvement Act