WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led twelve of her Senate colleagues in introducing new legislation that would ensure Iran Veterans are covered under the PACT Act, cutting unnecessary red tape and making it easier for our warfighters who are being exposed to toxic substances to access the unique treatment they need when they return home. In 2022, the PACT Act helped generations of Veterans—from Vietnam to Iraq—more easily receive care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by establishing a list of locations where it is presumed by law that troops who served there were exposed to toxic hazards. However, Iran is currently not included on this presumed-exposure list, despite troops serving in the Iran War being exposed to many of the same hazards and President Trump’s refusal to rule out inserting ground forces into Iran.
The New PACT for Iran Veterans Act would require the VA to add Iran to the list of covered locations and take more proactive action to ensure Iran War Veterans—and all Veterans who serve in future conflicts—don’t have to jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to access the care they’ve earned through their service.
“By establishing the landmark PACT Act, our nation finally helped generations of Veterans who suffered from toxic exposure in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan more easily access the care they needed after being stonewalled by bureaucratic tape for years,” said Duckworth. “With a new generation of troops being thrown into another war in the Middle East, our nation must learn the lessons from previous conflicts and proactively ensure Iran Veterans don’t suffer from those same mistakes. Our New PACT for Iran Veterans Act would ensure no servicemember fights a war overseas only to come home and be faced with another battle to get the care they’ve rightfully earned through their service. Congress must act to care for these heroes now—not later.”
Specifically, Senator Duckworth’s New PACT for Iran Veterans Act would:
- Cut Red Tape for Iran War Veterans by statutorily presuming toxic substance exposure for Iran War Veterans, helping streamline their access to health care and benefits at VA. The bill would ensure that federal law protects all Veterans who fought in Iran, including those who operated in Iranian airspace and territorial waters.
- Leave No Veteran Behind by requiring, for the first time, that the VA’s Military Environmental Exposure Sub-Council (MEESC) conducts studies at least every five years to review all overseas assignments for toxic substance exposures. Additionally, when the military begins a contingency operation, the VA must commence a similar review of the locations from which servicemembers support this operation within 180 days. This would ensure the VA proactively looks into whether servicemembers are being exposed to toxic hazards, for current and future assignments.
- Enhance Transparency at the VA by requiring the VA Secretary to publicly explain their justification for any denial of a country that’s recommended for presumed toxic-exposures in these reviews, or any removal of existing presumptions.
In addition to Duckworth, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
“The cost of war includes providing health care and benefits to veterans exposed to toxins during their military service,” said Blumenthal. “This legislation would build on the PACT Act to ensure all service members sent into harm’s way, including recent veterans of the war with Iran, are able to receive the benefits they deserve.”
“Our veterans deserve access to prompt, timely healthcare – regardless of the conflict and country where they serve for our country,” said King. “Just as the PACT Act represented a historical milestone for Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans, our New PACT for Iran Veterans Act will ensure that the VA recognizes the unique current toxic exposure risks of our service members sacrifice and guarantee they receive the support they have earned, without delay.”
“The bipartisan PACT Act marked a historic step in ensuring that veterans and service members exposed to toxic substances can get the care they need and deserve,” said Welch. “But President Trump’s reckless decision to throw our country into war in the Middle East means there’s a new generation of veterans facing conditions that could be hazardous to their health. We need to update our pact to servicemembers to ensure that Iran War Servicemembers and Veterans aren’t faced with red tape to get proper benefits and care once they come home.”
“For too long, veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service have had to fight for the care and benefits they earned. The PACT Act was a historic step toward correcting that failure,” said Bennet. “We have a responsibility to ensure the men and women serving today in President Trump’s reckless Iran war do not face those same barriers when they come home. Congress must act now to ensure all future veterans can access their hard-earned health care and benefits without having to fight the VA.”
“Donald Trump might not care, but the cost of war includes supporting our veterans when they come back home,” said Murray. “This legislation is a commonsense next step to expand the PACT Act to make sure our servicemembers who served in Iran continue to receive the care they need after their service is over. As I continue fighting to end the war—I want to be crystal clear that I won’t let this President leave American veterans in the dust.”
“As federal law, the historic PACT Act resulted in over 115,000 claims filed in Pennsylvania so veterans exposed to toxins could rightfully get the care they need. Servicemembers currently in the Middle East supporting our mission in Iran will not be eligible to file claims,” said Fetterman. “We need to change that through this bill, uphold our end of the sacred promise to those who answered the call to serve, and ensure future veterans are not subjected to the same delays as those before them.”
“American soldiers suffering after toxic exposure overseas should never have to second guess if they’ll get the support they need when they come home,” said Wyden. “Our country has a duty to care for veterans of all wars, and I’m proud to stand with Senator Duckworth to help make this commonsense legislation the law of the land.”
“Since we first championed the PACT Act four years ago, an estimated 90,000 Washington veterans have already filed claims to secure treatment for exposure to toxic substances,” said Cantwell. “The New PACT for Iran Veterans Act is a critical next step in this work, eliminating barriers to healthcare and disability compensation for veterans of the war with Iran and beyond.”
The legislation is endorsed by Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), VoteVets, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion.
“The PACT Act was a historic victory for veterans, but there is still much work to be done to ensure no veteran is left behind,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA. “We have repeatedly raised concerns about how changes to the classification of military operations and service members can have unintended consequences for veterans’ access to earned benefits. Senator Duckworth’s legislation takes an important step toward closing these gaps by expanding recognition of toxic exposure, requiring proactive reviews of overseas military locations, and strengthening transparency and accountability at VA. IAVA is proud to support this effort to ensure veterans’ service and potential exposures are not overlooked simply because of how or where they served.”
“After Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans who came home sick from toxic exposure had to spend years fighting for their care,” said VoteVets senior advisor, Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton. “Iran war veterans shouldn’t have to. The New PACT for Iran Veterans Act gets them covered now, not decades from now. Congress should pass it without delay.”
A copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.
