NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Friday, U.S. Deputy Secretary for Veterans Affairs Tanya Bradsher visited Arkansas.
Bradsher checked on the implementation of the PACT Act, a law expanding healthcare for veterans who suffered from burns and toxins during their time in war.
Additionally, she toured Little Rock and North Little Rock facilities, where she saw a mobile vet center, met with staff on increasing toxin screenings, and was updated on programs to help unhoused veterans.
It was also a time for the deputy secretary to be filled in on implementing the PACT Act. Bradsher said it's the most significant expansion of benefits in the VA's history.
In 2022, Congress passed the bill to expand healthcare to veterans who have been exposed to burns and toxins during war.
"While they may be fine right now, we have no idea what we were exposed to when we were in Iraq or Afghanistan," Bradsher said.
So far, 19,000 veterans have filed claims in Arkansas, and almost all of them have been processed.
That totals $54 million worth of benefits.
"We've already processed nationwide a million claims in the fiscal year," Bradsher said. "That's the earliest we've ever done that."
The PACT Act just expanded this month to help more veterans. They can go directly to the medical center to register for care instead of waiting for their benefits to be approved first.