Blumenthal Spearheads Bill to Require Transparency in the PACT Act Toxic Exposure Presumptive Decision Process for Veterans
Senator’s legislation will provide clarity for veterans impacted by VA decisions regarding presumptive benefits for toxic-exposure related conditions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is introducing legislation today to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide transparency to veterans on whether the Department is considering expanding or removing benefits for their specific toxic exposures or conditions and where VA is in the presumptive process, which was established by the PACT Act in 2022.
This comes on the heels of ProPublica reporting exposing the Trump Administration for rolling back benefits for a presumptive condition established under the landmark PACT Act for toxic-exposed veterans.
“This measure guarantees essential information to veterans suffering from toxic exposure-related illnesses. They need and deserve to know whether their specific condition qualifies for PACT Act presumptive care and benefits. This is especially critical as the VA is reportedly rolling back coverage of conditions without scientific evidence,” said Blumenthal.
The PACT Act provided VA resources and authorities to further expand the list of presumptive toxic exposure-related service-connected disabilities, which it has used to expand benefits for Agent Orange-exposed veterans and ease the burden of proof for burn pits exposed veterans diagnosed with leukemia, myelomas, bladder cancer and related genitourinary cancers.
Blumenthal’s bill—the Presumptive Clear Legal Assessment and Review of Illnesses from Toxic Exposure Yields (CLARITY) Act—would require VA to establish a public-facing website to educate toxic-exposed veterans on the processes it uses to determine which conditions are related to military toxic exposures. This would ensure veterans know if VA plans to add or remove their exposure or condition as a presumptive and instruct veterans on how they can provide input. Currently, VA lacks a consolidated website where veterans can access this information.
ProPublica’s reporting revealed how the Trump VA is removing a presumptive condition for a rare but deadly cancer—male breast cancer—without scientific evidence to support their decision. This policy, leaked in an internal memo, will make it harder for veterans with this deadly cancer to get health care and strips them of their PACT Act benefits.
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