McConnell, Thune and Barrasso were among the ones who voted against expanding access to health care for toxin-exposed veterans.
The bill, which was brought forward by Tester and Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, called for the expansion of healthcare and disability benefits for veterans who had been exposed to toxic materials during their military service.
The new legislation would expand care to 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to burn pits since 9/11 in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, adding 23 toxic and burn pit exposure-related illnesses to the VA database. The bill would also expand support for Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in places like American Samoa, Cambodia, Guam, Johnston Atoll, Laos and Thailand.
The entire package was expected to cost some $278.5 billion over the next decade, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. "Advocates died fighting for this bill. Instead of spending their last days with their families, they fought to help their fellow veterans," wrote veteran Ted Corcoran on"Now, more veterans will die waiting for help that was just within our reach but may never come. Don't ever thank me for my service again."40 Republicans voted against expanding access to healthcare to toxin-exposed veterans.
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