Congress Passes Measures to Protect Health of Veterans, Ease Inflation, Bolster Tax Fairness

I am writing with an update from The Weekly Wrap, a recap of the week in Congress and highlights of my work. Last week the House passed the Honoring Our PACT Act, legislation to make healthcare available to more than 3.5 million veterans who have faced toxic exposure, including burn pits. Additionally, the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation to fight inflation, lower health care costs and tackle the climate crisis. Honoring Our PACT Act Last week, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The Honoring Our PACT is a comprehensive legislative package to address the full range of issues impacting veterans exposed to toxic chemicals and provide access to benefits and healthcare
through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); making healthcare available to more than 3.5 million veterans.
This legislation includes my bill, the Palomares Veterans Act, which would remove barriers to benefits and compensation for veterans who responded to the 1996 nuclear accident in Palomares, Spain. The PACT Act represents the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years. This legislation ensures impacted veterans, as well as their families and caregivers, will receive the health care and
benefits they have earned and deserve. I am pleased to have joined my colleagues in advancing the PACT Act out of the House and look forward to President Biden signing the legislation into law. Infl ation Reduction Act Last week, the Senate took another step to help ease inflation help lower costs for Americans, and tackle the climate crisis by passing the Inflation Reduction Act. Specifically, the Inflation Reduction Act: Lowers the cost of prescription
drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and caps out-of-pocket costs to $2,000; Invests more than $300 billion in energy and climate reform; and Establishes a 15% corporate minimum tax rate, requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes. The House will reconvene this week to pass this legislation. As your Congresswoman, I recognize the devastating impact skyrocketing costs have on families in Connecticut’s Fifth District. Additionally, I know the climate crisis is one the major issues of our time. Please be assured I will continue
to make progress on these issues.
Jahana Hayes
Member of Congress