Tester slams senators for switching votes on veterans toxic exposure bill

Sen. Jon Tester called out during a press call Thursday his Senate colleagues who switched their vote on Tester's bill for providing treatment to U.S. military veterans who were exposed to toxic substances.

"It hurts me to say this but this is a sad week for the United States Senate," Tester said. ª(Wednesday), dozens of Senate Republicans turned their backs on our nation's veterans and their families by failing to advance the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022

"Look, this is a slap in the face of every member of our all-volunteer military, those who have served and sacrificed, because promises were made and those promises included they would be taken care of when they get returned home if they were damaged by the war and their service to this country."

The bill had passed the Senate in June, was amended in the House and Wednesday's vote was to advance it to a vote on the Senate floor to approve the House changes. That vote failed to get the 60-vote minimum.

Named after Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service, the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act will expand health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans, create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure, expand VA's list of service presumptions, and improve resources to support VA's claims processing.

Watch for more on Tester's comments here and in Monday's edition of Havre Daily News.