Bennet, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ensure Iran War Veterans Are Covered Under PACT Act

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ensure Iran War Veterans Are Covered Under PACT Act Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and 11 of their Senate colleagues in introducing new legislation to ensure veterans of President Trump’s illegal and reckless Iran war can be covered under the PACT Act, which Bennet helped pass in August 2022. The […] Nov 13, 2026 | Press Releases Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and 11 of their Senate colleagues in introducing new legislation to ensure veterans of President Trump’s illegal and reckless Iran war can be covered under the PACT Act, which Bennet helped pass in August 2022. The New PACT for Iran Veterans Act will cut unnecessary red tape and make it easier for our servicemembers who have been exposed to toxic substances to access critical treatment when they return home. Passage of the PACT Act helped generations of veterans — from Vietnam to Iraq — more easily receive care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by establishing a list of locations where it is presumed by law that troops who served there were exposed to toxic hazards. Iran is not, however, currently included on this presumed-exposure list, despite troops serving in the Iran war being exposed to many of the same hazards. The New PACT for Iran Veterans Act would require the VA to add Iran to the list of covered locations and take more proactive action to ensure Iran veterans — and all veterans who serve in future conflicts — do not have to jump through bureaucratic hoops in order to access the care they’ve earned through their service. “For too long, veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service have had to fight for the care and benefits they earned. The PACT Act was a historic step toward correcting that failure,” said Bennet. “We have a responsibility to ensure the men and women serving today in President Trump’s reckless Iran war do not face those same barriers when they come home. Congress must act now to ensure all future veterans can access their hard-earned health care and benefits without having to fight the VA.” “By establishing the landmark PACT Act, our nation finally helped generations of Veterans who suffered from toxic exposure in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan more easily access the care they needed after being stonewalled by bureaucratic tape for years,” said Duckworth. “With a new generation of troops being thrown into another war in the Middle East, our nation must learn the lessons from previous conflicts and proactively ensure Iran Veterans don’t suffer from those same mistakes. Our New PACT for Iran Veterans Act would ensure no servicemember fights a war overseas only to come home and be faced with another battle to get the care they’ve rightfully earned through their service. Congress must act to care for these heroes now—not later.” “The cost of war includes providing health care and benefits to veterans exposed to toxins during their military service,” said Blumenthal. “This legislation would build on the PACT Act to ensure all servicemembers sent into harm’s way, including recent veterans of the war with Iran, are able to receive the benefits they deserve.” “Our veterans deserve access to prompt, timely healthcare – regardless of the conflict and country where they serve for our country,” said King. “Just as the PACT Act represented a historical milestone for Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan veterans, our New PACT for Iran Veterans Act will ensure that the VA recognizes the unique current toxic exposure risks of our service members sacrifice and guarantee they receive the support they have earned, without delay.” “The bipartisan PACT Act marked a historic step in ensuring that veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic substances can get the care they need and deserve,” said Welch. “But President Trump’s reckless decision to throw our country into war in the Middle East means there’s a new generation of veterans facing conditions that could be hazardous to their health. We need to update our pact to servicemembers to ensure that Iran War Servicemembers and Veterans aren’t faced with red tape to get proper benefits and care once they come home.” “Donald Trump might not care, but the cost of war includes supporting our veterans when they come back home,” said Murray. “This legislation is a commonsense next step to expand the PACT Act to make sure our servicemembers who served in Iran continue to receive the care they need after their service is over. As I continue fighting to end the war—I want to be crystal clear tha