MOUNT VERNON – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown hosted a roundtable at AMVETS Post 95 in Mount Vernon on May 25 to discuss the benefits veterans can now receive if they were harmed by toxic exposure while serving in the military.
Brown’s bipartisan “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022” was signed into law last year.
“It was a privilege to be in Mount Vernon to help get out the word about the PACT Act and what it means for veterans," Brown said in remarks shared with the Mount Vernon News after the roundtable. "We’ve held roundtables all over the state for years with Ohio veterans – and at pretty much every veteran roundtable, veterans would bring up concerns about toxic exposure during their time in the service."
“This law is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country’s history,” Brown said. “We’re working to get the word out to veterans across Ohio.”
Among the agencies participating in the roundtable were the Knox County Veterans’ Service Office, Area Agency on Aging, Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Center of Hope.
Brown’s legislation was named after Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who died in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.
“I remember Ohioan Susan Zeier, Heath Robinson’s mother-in-law, coming to us in 2017 and asking our office to help in this fight," Brown said. "We went to work and got this done. And in the end, the PACT Act was even named for her son-in-law Heath. The PACT Act is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country’s history.”
Knox County Veterans Service Office Executive Director Kevin Henthorn said that in disability claims filings, if a presumptive list has been enacted or recognized by Congress, that gives the Veterans Administration leverage in granting claims.
“So if you are exposed to something, and you have the disease that’s on the list, it’s not automatic, but it becomes less of an uphill battle for the veteran," he said. "Then disability claims become more easily granted."
Along with those claims comes health care for that disease or disability.
“Without this type of act, whether it be the Agent Orange exposure type of act, or the PACT Act, the burden of proof falls on that veteran to prove their claim,” Henthorn said. “When they pass these types of acts, it just makes the road a more smooth four-lane highway versus uphill dirt road to get to get veterans benefits and their disabilities.”
He said his office has been filing these claims for years, but they were hard to get approved.
“If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions,” Brown said. “All 23 presumptive conditions outlined in the bill went into effect immediately. That means no more excuses. No more delays. Veterans have waited long enough. Now we’re working to get the word out to veterans across Ohio and connect them with VA to sign up for benefits.”
Henthorn said the main message from Brown’s visit is that the county appreciates the visits, whether it’s a senator, Congress member or a state representative, as anytime they can take the time to visit the smaller counties, they always appreciate it.
Ohio veterans and family members can visit va.gov/pact to learn more about claiming benefits. In addition, more information on available resources can be found through other organizations. The Knox County Veterans Service Commission can be reached at 740-393-6742. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, press 1, or text the crisis line at 838255. Its website is veteranscrisisline.net.
