02 August 2022
The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) announced the final passage of legislation in the Senate to open the two clinics of Veterans in Baltimore and Prince George’s County. Bipartisan Sergeant 1st Class Heath Robinson honoring our promise to address the Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT) which was passed today by a vote of 86-11, provides health care benefits to all generations of veterans exposed to toxins for first time in the nation’s history and will improve access to care for all who served in our nation’s armed forces. The bill now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.
Lawmakers struggled to include authorization and funding for two Maryland veterans health clinics — one in the Baltimore region and another in Prince George’s County. $43 million will support construction of a new Baltimore Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), which will replace and expand outpatient services currently provided at the existing Baltimore VA Clinic Annex on Fayette Street while reducing strain on the Medical Center of Baltimore VA. $32 million has been set aside for the construction of a Prince George’s CBOC; this new facility will be significantly larger than the existing clinic in the southern part of the county and will represent a major improvement for area veterans as the new clinic will be equipped to provide services beyond the capabilities of the current clinic as well as Southeastern DC. CBOC.
“We must keep our promises to veterans who put themselves at risk to serve our country, and that includes making sure they have access to high-quality health care. The bipartisan PACT Act will do just that — investing $75 million in new and improved outpatient clinics that will help provide much-needed services to Maryland veterans. said Senator Van Hollen. “This is a major win for our communities and a critical step forward in improving the network of care for veterans across our state, while also making a historic investment in care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxins. I look forward to the President signing this bill into law as soon as possible.”
“Maryland’s veterans served this nation with honor, and they deserve access to timely and convenient high-quality health care services.” Senator Cardin said. “Providing health care benefits to the thousands of American veterans exposed to toxins emanating from burn pits is essential. Expanding the network of community-based outpatient clinics available to Baltimore-area veterans and greatly improving the facilities and services for veterans within Prince George’s County will bring much-needed, state-of-the-art health care services to all veterans calling Maryland. in home.”
“This landmark piece of legislation will have a significant impact on the lives of Prince George’s County veterans, improving the quality of their health care and ensuring they receive the benefits and services they deserve. I am pleased that the Senate passed this bill today, sending it to President Biden for his signature, and I look forward to witnessing the positive change it will bring to the Fifth District and the entire state of Maryland. said Congressman Hoyer.
“Our veterans deserve state-of-the-art health care in state-of-the-art facilities”, said Dutch Congressman Ruppersberger. “They also deserve a health care system that is accessible and convenient. This new clinic will help us deliver on all of these promises, and I am proud of the team effort that went into making it happen for our local veterans.”
“Our country can never repay the debt we owe our veterans, but passing this legislation today is a crucial step in improving access to the critical benefits they deserve. Upholding our responsibility to care for those who protect our country and our democracy, the Honor Our PACT Act expands coverage for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service and creates two new veterans clinics in Maryland. said Congressman Sarbanes. “I am pleased that we are sending this legislation to President Biden’s desk with strong, bipartisan support.”
“If you put your life abroad on the line to protect the liberties of Americans at home, you deserve to be cared for both during and after military service.” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I am proud to have supported the Honoring Our PACT Act, which increases our nation’s commitment to our brave service members, ensuring that their health needs will always be met, no matter the circumstances.”
“We make a sacred promise to our service members when they come home – to provide our veterans with the best health care our country can offer. Critical to keeping that promise is a commitment to access in the communities where our veterans live. said Congressman Anthony Brown. “This legislation and funding will help meet Maryland veterans where they are and provide the quality care they deserve. We will never stop fighting for the brave men and women who have served and we will always have their backs.”
Additional background on CBOC’s Baltimore and Prince George’s County plans
For the Baltimore CBOC, this legislation provides for the lease of an outpatient clinic of approximately 112,624 square feet, including 800 parking spaces. The new facility would allow the VA to improve outpatient services and provide more primary care space than is currently available at the VA Baltimore Clinic Annex.
For the Prince George’s County clinic, the PACT Act provides for the lease of an outpatient clinic of approximately 85,116 square feet, including 600 parking spaces. The new facility would allow the VA to accommodate the workload currently served by the South Prince George’s County and Southeast DC CBOCs, which has increased since the closing of the Greenbelt CBOC in 2015, and would allow more patients to receive care closer to their homes.
Both clinics will allow for the full implementation of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) care delivery model, improving operational efficiency and the veteran experience. They will be state-of-the-art, energy-efficient health care facilities offering primary care, mental health, specialty care and ancillary services for veterans.
About the PACT Act
Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson deployed to Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service. Among his many priorities, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 will:
- Expand VA health care eligibility for Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to poisons;
- Establishing a framework for making future service connection assumptions about toxic exposure;
- Add 23 burn pits and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service assumptions, including hypertension;
- Expand assumptions about Agent Orange exposure;
- Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as Agent Orange exposure locations;
- Strengthening federal research on toxic exposure;
- Improving VA resources and training for veterans exposed to poisons; AND
- Set VA and Veterans up for success by investing in:
- processing VA claims;
- the VA workforce; AND
- VA health care facilities.
- Create 31 new VA health care facilities in 19 states, including two in Maryland.
