The UWUA is proud to count many veterans among our members and we take our obligation to meet the needs of this community way beyond providing training and good jobs. We fight to get veterans mental health support and provide access to wrap-around services that also benefit their families. We even make sure veterans receive high-quality health care they need and deserve after serving their country. That’s why we’re celebrating the passage of the PACT Act, which the Veterans Committee worked hard to pass, and President Biden signed into law in early August.
The legislation significantly expands veterans’ health care and benefits for those individuals who were exposed to fumes caused by toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA, according to Department of Defense data, but this legislation will change that. Veterans Committee members wrote over two dozen letters supporting the American Legion and VFW’s efforts to pass the legislation. We also worked together with our partners at the Dixon Center to lobby for the passage of this important legislation. Veterans who have questions about how their benefits might be impacted should go to the VA’s website www.va.gov, or call 1-800-MyVA411.