WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced a Senate resolution to recognize October 2025 as National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month and recognize the impact of toxic exposures on veterans, servicemembers, their families and survivors.

“For decades, veterans and servicemembers have been exposed to potentially harmful toxins during their service to our nation,” said Sen. Moran. “Our resolution encourages greater public awareness of military toxic exposures, demonstrates support for affected servicemembers and veterans, and reinforces our commitment to preventing future toxic exposures. We also urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue researching military toxic exposures and highlight the care and resources available to veterans and their families.”

“Veterans exposed to radiation and toxic chemicals in service to our nation deserve both the care they need and the recognition they have earned,” said Sen. Rosen. “I’m proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Moran to not only recognize our brave servicemembers affected by toxic exposures, but also advocate for the care and benefits they are owed. I’ll continue working to make sure we take care of our veterans and their loved ones.”

“Military personnel shield us from those who wish to harm us,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let us care for those who have been our shield.”

Military toxic exposures date back more than a century from the use of chemical warfare in World War I, to tactical herbicides and Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, to exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and other conflicts. Thanks to the advocacy of the public, veterans service organizations and other partners, in 2022, Congress passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, also known as the PACT Act. Since its passage, VA has completed more than 6.4 million toxic exposure health screenings, processed more than 2.7 million PACT Act related claims and enrolled over 700,000 veterans in healthcare through the Veterans Health Administration. VA has also established multiple new presumptions of service connection for various cancers and leukemias utilizing the framework established in the PACT Act.

The full text of the resolution here.  

Sens. Moran and Rosen first introduced a resolution recognizing October as National Military Toxic Exposures Awareness Month in 2024 which the Senate passed unanimously.

# # #