President Joe Biden triggered a standing ovation for former “Each day Present” host Jon Stewart as he expressed his gratitude on the White Home for Stewart’s very important assist in increasing well being and incapacity protection for hundreds of thousands of veterans uncovered to poisonous burn pits.
“What you’ve achieved, Jon issues. It actually, actually issues,” Biden mentioned Wednesday within the East Room on the day he signed the PACT Act into regulation.
The PACT Act, also referred to as the Honoring our Pact Act, consists of well being protection for veterans — lots of whom are grappling with most cancers — after publicity to burn pits whereas serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“You refused to let anybody overlook,” Biden mentioned, addressing an emotional Stewart, who was within the viewers.
“We owe you large, man,” Biden added. “We owe you large.”
To the veterans, members of the family and lawmakers within the room, Biden added: “All the remainder of you, you by no means gave up the struggle. You by no means give up. You didn’t cease, it doesn't matter what you have been informed.”
Stewart was an indefatigable champion for increasing well being care protection for veterans. He doubled down and lashed out at Republican senators once they unexpectedly blocked the invoice final month. Earlier this 12 months, the PACT Act handed by way of the Senate however the 25 Republicans who beforehand backed it withdrew their help throughout July’s vote.
Veterans had traveled to Washington, D.C., to rejoice the passage of the invoice final month and as an alternative held a “hearth watch” vigil exterior the Capitol. They have been joined by Stewart, who talked to the press on the time to shoot down arguments in opposition to the invoice by GOP lawmakers.
Biden, who was in isolation on the time attributable to COVID, talked to the veterans in a video name and despatched them pizza.
The Senate held one other vote on the invoice final week and the measure handed with overwhelming bipartisan help.
“I’m undecided I’ve ever seen a state of affairs the place individuals who have already given a lot needed to struggle so laborious to get so little,” Stewart mentioned on Aug. 2 after the invoice’s passage. “I hope we discovered a lesson.”
Post a Comment