The daughter of a veteran who served her country for 21 years shares what the PACT Act means to her.
I was watching C-SPAN when the PACT Act was passed by Democrats in the House. I was so happy that veterans would finally get the care they deserved after their honorable service to a grateful nation.
And yes, while since 2007 Democrats have passed bills that have supported veterans and their families, the Republican Party never gave a damn about veterans who served their country. If you look on Twitter or Instagram, the GOP say, “Thank you for your service” or “Happy Veterans Day!” Yet in 2022, Democrats supported the PACT Act, but the majority of House Republicans voted against it, and Senate Republicans first voted against it before changing their minds under public pressure. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Aug. 10, 2022.
You’d think Republicans care about veterans, wouldn’t you? They say that they remember veterans for their service. They go on about how much they support the VA hospitals. They say Democrats haven’t done anything for veterans. Well, I think the PACT Act debacle finally has made people aware that Republicans don’t support veterans or care about them, despite campaign claims. Let the PACT Act demonstrate that Democrats care for veterans, their health care and their service to a grateful nation. Let this November election be a reminder that Republicans showed their true colors when they failed to stand up and support veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances and needed health care.
If you are a veteran and you were exposed to toxic water and burns, here’s what the PACT Act does for you. This new law empowers the VA to provide generations of veterans — and their survivors — with the care and benefits they have earned. The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs website provides the following list under the “PACT Act – What Veterans Need to Know.”
I’m honored to be writing this as a veteran’s daughter. All veterans deserve respect for their service and the best health care. I don’t care what party you belong to, Democrat or Republican or independent, if you don’t understand this bill’s impact, then you don’t know what it means to have a family member serve or dedicate their life to service to protect our country and our freedoms.
On 9/11 my mom came home and we watched on TV as the last tower fell. I knew something was happening to our country. Then, in March 2003, President Bush came on TV and declared war and all of sudden my mom got called to deploy to Iraq. As a little kid, I had no idea that my mom was serving our country and fighting for our country during the war. She even met General Colin Powell.
My mom once told me, “You are a veteran’s daughter, you support all veterans of all wars and all branches, don’t you ever forget that.” And I didn’t. After 21 years in the military, she’s still my veteran and my hero.
So come this November, I plead with each and every veteran to remember what Republicans did to you when they blocked the PACT Act. Remember that since 2007 they have never truly supported veterans who serve, like the Democrats have, no matter if the veteran is a Democrat, Republican or Independent.
To my mom, every military family member of mine, and to all those who serve, it is an honor to acknowledge your service.
You can learn more about the PACT Act here. If you have any questions regarding the PACT Act, please contact your local VA hospital.
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Well done and too true. Republicans initially opposed every Veteran Bill including the new GI Bill