On the recordMarch 2, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.R. 3967, Honoring our PACT Act, authored by my friend and esteemed colleague, Chairman Takano. This important bill includes the text of my bill, the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, named after our dear, late friend and colleague, Representative Mark Takai. H.R. 3967 would permit veterans who participated in the nuclear cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Western Pacific to be treated as radiation-exposed veterans and receive service-connected compensation benefits. Current law only covers servicemembers who participated in active nuclear tests and not those who participated in the cleanup. With the passage of this bill, Congress will finally right this wrong. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Chairman Mark Takano for his tremendous leadership on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the passage of H.R. 3967.
