Honoring our PACT Act of 2022
Latest action. Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 or the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022
This bill addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.
TITLE I--EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY
Conceding Our Veterans' Exposure Now and Necessitating Training Act of 2022 or the COVENANT Act of 2022
Subtitle A--Toxic-Exposed Veterans
(Sec. 103) This section provides eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care, including mental health services and counseling, to veterans who (1) participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (e.g., a qualifying activity that requires a corresponding entry in an exposure tracking record system, such as the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record); (2) served in specified locations on specified dates; or (3) deployed in support of a specified contingency operation.
(Sec. 104) The VA must complete an assessment to determine (1) the personnel and material resources necessary to implement the expanded provision of care to the veterans specified in Section 103 of this bill (e.g., veterans who participated in a toxic exposure risk activity), and (2) the total number of veterans who served in specified locations on specified dates and receive hospital care or medical services from the VA, disaggregated by priority group.
Subtitle B--Certain Veterans Of Combat Service And Other Matters
(Sec. 111) This section extends the eligibility period for VA hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for combat veterans who served after September 11, 2001, and are toxic-exposed veterans, including those who did not enroll to receive VA care during the eligibility period.
TITLE II--TOXIC EXPOSURE PRESUMPTION PROCESS
Toxic Exposure in the American Military Act of 2022 or the TEAM Act of 2022
(Sec. 202) This section prescribes the procedures for establishing or removing presumptions of service-connection based on toxic exposure, including by providing for public notice and comment periods and the establishment of a working group to advise and make recommendations regarding toxic exposures during military service.
The summary continues for 63 more paragraphs. Read it in full on Congress.gov
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Passed Senate" stage on June 16, 2022. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
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The record's latest action, on June 16, 2022: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
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In the 117th Congress (2021-22), 362 of the 15,242 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.4 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one has no outstanding steps listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced it on June 17, 2021, and 100 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 97 Democrats, 3 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 17, 2021, 1911 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 1547 days ago, on June 16, 2022.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 117th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2023 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
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Vote history
- HouseMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
- SenateNot stated in the latest action
- PresidentNot stated in the latest action