Counties Applaud Passage of Veterans Health Care Package

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives passage of The Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, a package that will permanently expand access to Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and disability benefits for veterans exposed to airborne toxins during military service.

The legislation will help millions of veterans suffering from service-connected medical conditions and provide federal resources for County Veteran Services Officers through the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach (CVSO) Act.

The Honoring our Pact Act and the bipartisan Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act will help veterans access a range of service-connected federal benefits, a process facilitated by County Veterans Service Officers in 29 states,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “These officers are supported almost entirely by counties and local taxpayers, creating challenges for areas with high demand and counties serving veterans in rural areas. The PACT Act will allow counties to serve more veterans, especially in underserved and under resourced rural areas, and improve outcomes for veterans.”

The CVSO Act authorizes $50 million annually for five years for competitive grants to states to expand the work of CVSOs or comparable entities, providing new federal resources to county governments to help meet growing caseloads as millions of veterans begin filing claims based on the PACT Act’s many new presumptive conditions.

View NACo’s veterans affairs resources here.