Burn pit fund on the chopping block
The provision would cut a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) fund meant to cover costs for illnesses linked to military burn pits and other chemical exposure.
The six-month government spending package, which largely holds federal spending at fiscal year 2024 levels, would cut the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) for the VA next year.
The controversial fund was meant to allot $22.8 billion to cover expanded benefits for former service members sickened by military toxic exposures — including burn pit smoke and Agent Orange water contamination — starting October 1, 2025.
But the continuing resolution (CR) drafted and passed by House Republicans zeros out funding that would have been used for the TEF in the fall.
'It cuts more than $20 billion in funding needed to provide care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances next year,' Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on the Senate floor Thursday. 'It cannot pass.'
The Senate voted on the stopgap Friday evening.
Veterans groups were also unhappy with the move, with the liberal VoteVets warning that cutting the fund 'will cost lives' in social media posts.
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