WASHINGTON — They thought by Monday morning they would be celebrating. But veterans and their supporters were still demonstrating. Some have not left the U.S. Capitol steps since last Thursday and have camped out through the rain and sweltering heat.  

What You Need To Know

  • Veteran advocacy group Burn Pits 360 hopes to put the pressure on the Senate to pass the PACT Act — a bill to expand health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits

  • Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were among the 25 Republicans who blocked the bill last week after supporting a nearly identical version of the bill that got 84 votes in June

  • Cruz said he supports helping the veterans, but the point of contention is over a budget issue

  • Senate Democrats call the argument baseless 

“These are men and women who did 365-day deployments, so this is really nothing to them,” said Rosie Torres, co-founder of the veteran advocacy group Burn Pits 360. “They’re enjoying the camaraderie but they’re also sharing one thing in common and that is the injustice and the pain that they’re feeling for being stabbed in the back by our members in Congress.” 

The group hopes to put the pressure on the Senate to pass the PACT Act — a bill to expand health care benefits to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Some are voicing outrage after Senate Republicans, including the two from Texas, blocked passage of legislation to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while in the military. The legislative fight is not over, as the chamber is expected to vote on the PACT Act again this week.  

For Torres, who lives in the Corpus Christi area, this has been a 13-year campaign. 

“We could sit here all freaking day and talk about so and so flipped their vote, and so and so did this. Well, if they would just freaking pay attention and look these men and women in the face who fought for their freedom, we wouldn’t be caught up in all these, you know, games,” Torres said.   

Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were among the 25 Republicans who blocked the bill last week after supporting a nearly identical version of the bill that got 84 votes in June. 

“It’s not like Ted Cruz, you know, has gone out there and said, here’s the section I object to. He hasn’t. And it was in when he voted, yes,” comedian and activist Jon Stewart said speaking to journalists after a press conference on Capitol Hill Monday.  

Cruz said he supports helping the veterans, but the point of contention is over a budget issue. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, is leading the opposition, and he believes the bill’s accounting method could lead to $400 billion in extra discretionary government spending.  

Senate Democrats call the argument baseless and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told CNN “The outcome of that will be rationing of care for vets, which is something I just can’t sign up for.”  

In a statement to Spectrum News, Cruz’s spokesperson said, “The PACT Act contains an irresponsible Democratic provision allowing Congress to recklessly spend an additional $400 billion on programs totally unrelated to our veterans. The Senator and his Republican colleagues are working to advance the bill while removing that provision. Democrats were aware of this concern before (last week’s) vote but ignored it and refused to allow a vote to fix the bill. That refusal is why the bill is currently stalled. Democrats must work with Republicans and fix this issue to prevent inflationary spending that will hurt all Americans. Once that happens, the PACT Act will quickly become law.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will bring the bill back up for a vote this week. A debate on amendments Republicans want is expected. 

“This bill will ultimately pass, but it will be more fiscally responsible. Sen. Toomey, who led that effort, is negotiating with the leadership for things that should have been done last June but which were reneged upon. So it will pass,” Cornyn told reporters last week.  

Torres’ husband Le Roy suffered brain and lung damage after being exposed to burn pits in Iraq. They understand how difficult it is for veterans to prove their illnesses are tied to their service. The legislation would change that, by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to presume that many of those illnesses result from exposure to burn pit toxins.

“Every day that they delay, they’re killing a veteran, either through toxic exposure related issues or suicide,” Torres told Spectrum News.  

Democrats wonder why those Senate Republicans changed their votes. Both parties are blaming each other for playing politics. Some veteran advocates hope in the end it gets resolved in time before Senators leave for a monthlong recess at the end of the week.