{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-kildee-highlight-new-va-benefits-available-for-toxic-exposed-veterans-in-flint", "Peters, Kildee Highlight New VA Benefits Available for Toxic-Exposed Veterans in Flint", "2022-10-25", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "FLINT, MI \u2013 U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) and Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-5) hosted a press conference in Flint today with local veterans to highlight the new VA benefits now available to veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic chemicals during their service. Peters and Kildee helped enact into law the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act \u2013 which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans \u2013 and their survivors \u2013 for the first time in our nation\u2019s history.\n\n\u201cMany of our nation\u2019s heroes are suffering after being exposed to harmful substances like Agent Orange or toxic burn pits during their service,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cAfter helping enact the historic PACT Act, this was an important opportunity to highlight with Congressman Kildee new VA benefits now available to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans, as well as their survivors.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur servicemembers and military families sacrifice so much to defend our freedoms and keep our country safe. They should not have to fight to get the care they need for illnesses caused by exposure to toxins in the line of duty,\u201d said Congressman Kildee. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, creates new benefits for veterans and their families and streamlines the claims process to make accessing health care and survivor benefits easier. In Congress, I will continue to do everything I can to support America\u2019s veterans, servicemembers and military families.\u201d\n\nVeterans and survivors in Michigan and across the country can now apply for benefits Peters and Kildee helped secure through the Honoring Our PACT Act.\n\nCaseworkers from Senator Peters\u2019 and Congressman Kildee\u2019s offices were in attendance to assist in signing up for these new benefits. Toxic-exposed veterans are encouraged to apply for PACT Act-related benefits by calling the Veterans Administration at 800-698-2411 or filing a claim online for disability benefits and/or VA health care. Veterans are encouraged to apply regardless of whether they currently have symptoms. In addition to expanding benefits to toxic-exposed veterans, the new law will streamline and simplify the process of claiming survivor benefits for Michigan families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-kildee-highlight-new-va-benefits-available-for-toxic-exposed-veterans-in-flint"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.970857148990035, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}