Mayor Sharetta Smith, Senator Sherrod Brown and Veteran’s Service Officer Tamara Wilson hosted a roundtable with local Veterans on Wednesday afternoon.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — Advocating for the armed forces, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable with local veterans to discuss a new pact in the United States. The Sergeant First Class Heath Honoring Our Promise Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) is a new law that was passed on Aug. 10 to meet the needs of veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and toxic substances while serving.
The new law helps to expand healthcare benefits for veterans who may not have previously qualified.
“This started about 6 years ago,” said Brown. “I started working with a woman from Sandusky named Susan Zeier. Her son-in-law had been exposed to these burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in perfectly good health. He began to have bronchial issues and died around 3 years later. We named the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act after him.”
Through this process, Brown said Congress learned that many veterans had to fight the government just to prove they became sick from the burn pits.
Veterans gathered to learn about the new law and share their experiences in attempting to receive health benefits from the Ohio Veteran’s offices. Many believed the difficulty was not due to the local offices but the overall process of the system. Some explained that approval for benefits can take months before receiving the healthcare they need.
Veteran Leon Johnson encouraged his peers to keep going.
“The word I can give you is don’t stop,” said Johnson. “You can’t stop. You have to get the word out to the government. Join a Veteran’s Service Organization. It is a loud voice. I don’t care which one you join. You have someone that wants to give up, you send them to talk to me.”
From serving the country to advocating for benefits, veterans have made many strides by not giving up.
“Fighting the VA system is not an easy chore but you can’t give up,” added veteran Tim Casey. “You have to stay with it no matter what. I have seen so many cases where veterans just totally gave up because the VA ended up cutting their benefits. They are afraid to do anything. It is like being in a boxing match.”
Mayor Sharetta Smith thanked each Veteran for their service and Brown for his work on PACT. Smith invites local veterans to continue to build relationships with the city and inform her if there is anything she can do to help.
To register visit VA.gov/benefits/offices.asp.
PACT Act Health Care Eligibility:
Veterans who served in these countries during these time periods are eligible
• Republic of Vietnam: January 9, 1962 – May 7, 1975
• Guam or American Samoa: January 9, 1962 – July 31, 1980
• Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province: April 16, 1969 – April 30, 1969
• Thailand (Any U.S. or Royal Thai base): January 9, 1962 – June 30, 1976
• Laos: December 1, 1965 – September 30, 1969
• Johnston Atoll: January 1, 1972 – September 30, 1977
Veterans who aided in nuclear cleanup are eligible
• Enewetak Atoll: January 1, 1977 – December 31, 1980
• Palomares, Spain: January 17, 1966 – March 31, 1967
• Thule, Greenland: January 21, 1968 – September 25, 1968
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
