President Joe Biden will visit New Hampshire on Tuesday to discuss the impact of a law benefiting veterans exposed to toxins, such as burn pits, during their service. This law, known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, was signed in August 2022. The administration announced that over 1 million claims have been approved under the PACT Act, benefiting approximately 888,000 veterans and their survivors across all 50 states with $5.7 billion in disability payments.

Burn pits, used in military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan for disposing waste, have been linked to various health issues among veterans, including respiratory illnesses and cancers. Prior to the PACT Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs rejected 70% of such claims. The new law now mandates the VA to assume these illnesses are related to burn pit exposure without requiring veterans to prove the connection.

This issue is particularly personal for President Biden, who believes burn pits caused the brain cancer that led to the death of his son Beau Biden, a veteran of the Iraq War. The president’s visit aims to highlight his administration’s efforts in providing timely care and benefits to veterans, amidst his broader legislative achievements.