Amidst the shifting political landscape, the future of expanded veterans’ protections remains uncertain. The appointment of South Dakota’s Sen. Thune as Senate Majority Leader has cast doubt on Republican commitments to enhance these protections by 2025. Thune’s past stance against aiding veterans affected by toxic burn pit exposure has raised concerns.
Burn pits, utilized on American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, were a method for disposing of waste, including plastics and hazardous chemicals. The toxic fumes from these pits have been linked to increased cancer rates and other severe health issues among servicemembers.
President Joe Biden prioritized assisting these servicemembers, a mission close to his heart due to his son Beau’s death from brain cancer in 2015. Beau Biden, exposed to burn pits during his military service in Iraq, became a poignant symbol of the issue’s severity.
In 2021, Democratic lawmakers put forth the Honoring Our PACT Act, aimed at easing access to healthcare and disability benefits for burn pit victims through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation also sought to enhance benefits for veterans exposed to hazardous substances like Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Initially, Thune supported the Honoring Our PACT Act, which garnered strong bipartisan approval in both the House and Senate in June 2022. However, a procedural snag necessitated a second vote, during which Thune and 24 other Republicans reversed their stance, effectively halting the bill.
Comedian Jon Stewart, an advocate for the bill, criticized Thune and the Republicans for their sudden opposition, stating, “Their constituents are dying. This is a disgrace.”
Thune attributed his change of heart to doubts about the VA’s ability to manage an increased workload. He advocated for a Republican amendment allowing burn pit victims access to private sector care, but this amendment failed to pass.
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the U.S., ranks as Thune’s second largest financial supporter.
The initial defeat of the bill sparked public backlash, leading to speculation about its potential impact on Republican prospects in the 2022 midterms. When the bill resurfaced in August, Thune supported it, and it was eventually signed into law by President Biden.
On November 13, Senate Republicans selected Thune as their new leader, succeeding Kentucky’s Sen. Mitch McConnell, who had held the role since 2007.
Requests for comment from a Thune spokesperson went unanswered.
