[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 167 (Wednesday, November 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5967-H5968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NATIONAL VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILIES MONTH

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, every November, we honor military families and 
transitioning veterans during National Veterans and Military Families 
Month.
  It is important to recognize the sacrifices that our veterans and 
families have made for our country every day so we can enjoy the 
freedoms they fought to protect.
  Two years ago, when Democrats were in the majority, we passed the 
Honoring our PACT Act, a once-in-a-generation expansion for veterans' 
healthcare and benefits.
  Earlier this year, we celebrated a major milestone of more than 1 
million PACT Act-related cases being granted to over 880,000 veterans 
who are now finally receiving their service-connected disability 
benefits due to exposures to burn pits and other toxins. They are from 
across all 50 States and U.S. territories. These are historic numbers 
for a piece of legislation.
  Prior to the PACT Act, the burden fell on veterans to prove the 
conditions and illnesses they were sick and dying from were results of 
their service and burn pit exposure. No longer must veterans carry that 
difficult burden. They

[[Page H5968]]

have presumptive benefits to over 300 illnesses caused by burn pits and 
other toxins, and the list keeps growing.
  I will always fight so that our veterans and their families' needs 
are met. Thank you to all who have served.
  To my constituents, my doors are open if they need any assistance.

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