AKRON, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable with local veterans to discuss the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that was recently signed into law by President Biden.

“This law is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country’s history,” said Brown. “This is a cost of going to war. If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions.”

The legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.

Brown was joined by veterans who have been exposed to, and affected by, burn pits during their military service. Local advocates also attended the roundtable discussion.

“The PACT Act is a huge win for not only our Vietnam veterans with the PACT Act’s recognition of Agent Orange in Thailand, but also our Gulf War veterans regarding the impact of the burn pits and particulate matter,” said John Life, American Legion District 14 Commander for the Department of Ohio American Legions.

The PACT Act is the result of a years-long fight by Brown, veterans and advocates to secure access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and disability benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals. He now is working with Ohio veterans, their families and advocates to bring additional attention to provisions in the PACT Act so veterans can get the care they’ve earned and deserve. 

All Ohio veterans and family members can go to va.gov/pact to find out more about these benefits.