Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Politics and Government News
Alex V. Cipolle

Veterans' PACT Act deadline approaching

Two people stand at a podium
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke about the PACT Act on Monday at the Minneapolis VA Health Care center.
Alex V. Cipolle | MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough spoke Monday at the Minneapolis VA Health Care Center to remind veterans of an important deadline.  

The 2022 SFC Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act expands benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and other toxic substances during the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan wars. 

The deadline to file claims that will back-date to August 2022 is Aug. 9. 

“It covers new conditions that can qualify for help from Agent Orange, and that includes hypertension," Klobuchar said.  

"We are very enthusiastic about the fact that 700,000 veterans have filed claims, but when you think about the fact that as many as three and a half million Iraq and Afghanistan vets may qualify, and then several million additional Vietnam vets may qualify, we want to make sure that we're making we're making every veteran aware that they qualify,” said McDonough, who grew up in Stillwater. 

He added: “Many of our Vietnam vets do not know that their hypertension is now presumed connected to their service. So please, if you have a veteran in your family, your son, your daughter, your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, one of your battle buddies, please send word to them. Please file on or before August 9.” 

McDonough said PACT Act claims are being accepted at a rate of about 79 percent, an “historically high rate of granting of benefits,” which he credited partially to improved training and education of VA personnel. Klobuchar said improved staff education was a vital part of the bill.  

“There has been improvement — vast improvements — but a lot of that was training people so they understood what the standard was, what the new standard was, and how to implement that,” Klobuchar said. “It was a very important piece of the bill because we knew what the past denial rates were.” 

According to VA data, 9,631 Minnesota veterans had filed claims as of mid-June. Minnesota has more than 294,000 veterans. 

On July 19, the Minneapolis VA Health Care center will host PACT Act VetFest Day, which will include toxic exposure screenings and a claim clinic as well as live music.