Mark Takano: “I wish to thank Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker, for her commitment to bring this bill to the floor. After years of diligent…”

“I wish to thank Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker, for her commitment to bring this bill to the floor. After years of diligent input from my colleagues, our staff, VA, VSOs, and toxic- exposed veterans themselves, I am confident that we are bringing the best possible version of this bill up for a vote. The administration agrees and has stated that it ``strongly supports'' this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the Statement of Administrative Policy for H.R. 3967. Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 3967--Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act--Rep. Takano, D-California and 100 cosponsors The Administration strongly supports H.R. 3967, which would expand veterans' access to health care and benefits to address the health effects of harmful environmental exposures that occurred during military service. The President believes that our Nation has only one truly sacred obligation: to properly prepare and equip our service members when we send them into harm's way and to care for them and their families when they return home. Far too often, military service comes with a cost, and we owe it to our veterans and their families to address these consequences comprehensively. Unfortunately, it has taken decades to understand the deleterious effects of environmental exposures--leaving too many without access to the benefits and services they need. H.R.…”