Paying the cost of war through bipartisan action, not words
By Jon Tester and Jerry Moran
Thursday, Feb 10
Decade after decade, American men and women have deployed to countries across the globe in the defense of our freedom. Thousands of them were exposed to harmful toxins during that service that resulted in life-altering health conditions. And far too many of them face yet another battle here at home when seeking the care and the benefits they desperately need.
Our nation’s service members, veterans, their families and their survivors are all too familiar with the lasting effects caused by exposure to toxic substances during military service. For many, these devastating long-term health effects are sometimes not identified for years, leaving veterans with limited options once they finally seek the timely care and the assistance they need.
The use of toxic chemicals in war zones and combat operations dates back more than a century ago. In the trenches of World War I, it was mustard gas. In the jungles of Vietnam, it was Agent Orange. And despite repeated examples of the harmful and lasting impacts of toxic exposure on our military men and women, the widespread use of burn pits — waste disposed by burning — in the Middle East has left our latest generation of veterans struggling with the increasingly serious and complex medical conditions associated with exposure.
https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2022/02/10/paying-the-cost-of-war-through-bipartisan-action-not-words/
