Buckeye Reporter

MOUNT VERNON, OH – On June 1, 2023, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable at AMVETS Post 95 in Mount Vernon to discuss new health care and disability benefits for veterans who have been harmed by toxic exposure while serving in the military. Veterans are now eligible for these benefits due to Brown’s bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that was signed into law last year.

“This law is the most comprehensive expansion of benefits for veterans who faced toxic exposure in our country’s history,” said Brown. “We’re working to get the word out to veterans across Ohio. If you were exposed to toxins while serving our country, you deserve the benefits you earned. Period. No exceptions.”

The legislation is named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a Central Ohio veteran who passed away in 2020 at age 39 from lung cancer after exposure to burn pits during a one-year deployment in Iraq in 2006.

“It’s always a pleasure to welcome elected officials and those in leadership to our small rural county. We passionately believe that Knox County is a great example Ohio communities. I truly appreciate Senator Brown and his office taking the time to visit our community and taking an interest in how we live, work, operate and serve our veterans. I hope that Senator Brown takes with him a newfound interest and education on small county needs and accomplishments as it relates to veterans and their families. We look forward to a continued relationship and communication with His office iof n the future. It was our honor and privilege to welcome Senator Brown and his staff here to Knox County, and they are always welcome here,” said Kevin Henthorn, Executive Director of Veterans’ Services.

The PACT Act is the result of a years-long fight by Brown, veterans and advocates to secure access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care and disability benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins. He now is working with Ohio veterans, their families and advocates to bring additional attention to provisions in the PACT Act and urges all Ohio veterans and family members to visit www.va.gov/pact to find out more about how to claim benefits.

Ohio veterans who would like more information on available resources can reach out to the resources below.

Knox County Veterans Service Commission:

(740) 393-6742

Veterans Crisis Line

988 - Press 1

Or Text 838255

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Original source can be found here.