Gallego Holds Call with VA Secretary to Discuss Arizona PACT Act Implementation Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough outlining concerns with issues regarding PACT Act implementation in Arizona, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) today held a phone call with Sec. McDonough to discuss the letter and the progress the VA plans to take to improve health care access for Arizona veterans.
Statement from Rep. Ruben Gallego:
“I was pleased to share my concerns directly with Secretary McDonough and and have a productive conversation about the VA’s plan to ramp up hiring and ensure veterans receive benefits they’re entitled to. He acknowledged the importance of reducing the backlog and outlined the steps VA has taken to increase hiring and retain their workforce.
“Secretary McDonough pledged to work with me moving forward and assured me he’ll continue the important work of rolling out this once-in-a-generation benefits expansion for Arizona’s veterans.
“I concluded the discussion by inviting the Secretary to visit Arizona in the coming months to see firsthand the hard work being done by Arizona’s VA facilities.”
Earlier this month, Rep. Gallego sent a letter to Sec. McDonough regarding recent reports that the Department is struggling to hire and retain veteran claims processors, negatively impacting the implementation of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act of 2022.
Click here to read the letter.
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act of 2022 expands access to VA health care and benefits to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. The new law shifts the burden of proof off our veterans and creates service-connection presumptions for 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers.