Political Quotes

“Burn pits are the Agent Orange of post-9/ 11 veterans. Over 165,000 veterans have registered their names into the burn pit registry, something that is voluntary, but there are millions more of our troops who have been exposed to these toxic burn pits during their deployments. They deserve recognition. They deserve care. And they deserve the services they have earned. So far, our government has failed to fulfill its responsibility to them and to recognize the toxins that they have been exposed to, just like what happened to our Vietnam veterans decades ago, when our government ignored their exposure and the ensuing illnesses that came from Agent Orange. When I was deployed to Iraq, the cloud of toxic smoke and fumes from the massive burn pit in our camp was a daily reality. I know the damage they cause. I have seen the devastating toll they have taken on my brothers and sisters in arms who survived combat, came home, but are now suffering from rare cancers, lung diseases, neurological disorders, and more. Today, my colleague and fellow veteran, Brian Mast, and I are reintroducing our burn pit legislation to address this travesty, joined by Senators Klobuchar and Sullivan, to make sure they get the treatment services that they earned. ____________________”