[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Veterans

  Finally, there is another area that we will be voting on. There is an 
important announcement this morning for our Nation's veterans. Chairman 
Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran of the Senate Veterans' Affairs 
Committee will announce a bipartisan proposal on comprehensive 
legislation to help millions of our Nation's veterans who struggle with 
sickness because of exposure to toxins during their military service, 
including exposure to toxic burn pits and Agent Orange.
  This has for years--for years--been a top priority of mine. I have 
worked closely with advocates like VSOs and Jon Stewart and John Feal 
to get this Senate to act on this long-neglected problem. I am happy to 
see burn pit legislation has taken an important step closer to passage.
  I thank Senators Tester and Moran for their good work. I strongly 
support the agreement reached by Tester and Moran, and it is my 
intention to have this on the floor of the Senate the week that we 
return from the Memorial Day work period.
  Our veterans--we will see them on Memorial Day--are very eager for 
this bill. I hope veterans throughout the country will let their 
Senators know how important this legislation is. Our veterans need it, 
they deserve it, and we have a moral obligation to take care of those 
who have sacrificed so much for us.