U.S. Representative Kim Schrier hosts roundtable discussion with GRC veteran and military students
By Philip Denman, October 5, 2022
U.S. Representative Kim Schrier hosted a roundtable conversation with GRC veteran and military students on Oct. 3 to discuss the recent passage of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
Schrier was joined by Lourdes E. 'Alfie' Alvarado-Ramos, director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs; GRC Trustee Arlene Pierini; GRC President Suzanne Johnson; Deb Casey, vice president, Student Affairs; Jason Rawson, director, Veterans Services; Veterans Service staff; and a number of veteran and military students currently attending Green River.
During the hour long conversation, Schrier and Alvarado-Ramos answered questions about the PACT Act and eligibility as well as listened to first hand accounts from students who were exposed to toxic environments, such as burn pits, while deployed.
The PACT Act, which was passed in Aug. 2022, is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history and will introduce the following changes:
- Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras
- Adds more than 20 new presumptive conditions for burn pits and other toxic exposures
- Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation
- Requires VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every Veteran enrolled in VA health care
- Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures
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Rep. Schrier meets GRC veteran and military students during a roundtable discussion
Rep. Schrier (left) and GRC Director of Veteran Services Jason Rawson
GRC Director of Veteran Services Jason Rawson (right) presents Rep. Schrier (left) with a Green River College challenge coin
GRC Director of Veteran Services Jason Rawson (right) presents Lourdes E. 'Alfie' Alvarado-Ramos, director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (left) with a Green River College challenge coin