From the office of the Honorable Senator Sabina Flores Perez, Guam
Hagåtña, Guam – Last week, President Biden signed into law the bipartisan PACT Act, which expands healthcare and benefits for Veterans exposed to toxic exposures, which include Agent Orange, radiation, open burning or other toxics during their military service. The Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 includes new benefits for Veterans exposed to radiation during the Cold War, as well as 23 new presumptive conditions for Veterans exposed to open burn pits and 3 new presumptive conditions for Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange from military service performed on Guam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on July 31, 1980 will receive the long-awaited health care they deserve.
“Although the PACT Act is the most comprehensive piece of legislation written to address Veterans’ healthcare in recent times, it still falls short when addressing the specific case of service members on US soil, including Guam,” said Senator Perez. Two amendments included in Resolution 199-36, in support of the PACT Act, to rectify the date of exposure to Agent Orange from August 15, 1958 and to include presumptive exposure to open burning/open detonation on Guam were not included in the final legislation.
The open burn/open detonation pit on Guam is sited in the north near our sole source aquifer that supplies over 80% of our island’s population with drinking water. Additionally, it is adjacent to the island’s two most populated villages of Yigo and Dededo.
“The PACT Act points to the need to end the outdated practice of open burn/open detonation, which is based on ‘dirty technology’, especially with the implementation of safer alternatives in several communities in the US that comply with USEPA environmental standards and DOD’s rigorous safety review. Long- and short-term exposures to these harmful emissions are known to lead to heart attacks, asthma attacks, and premature death,” said Senator Perez.
In January 2022, Earthjustice and the Guam community group, Prutehi Litekyan, filed a Federal Lawsuit against the U.S. Air Force for its intent to continue to utilize open-burn and open detonation practices at Tarague Beach on Andersen Air Force Base.
“We have lost our loved ones as a result of toxic exposures. We must honor their memory by making things right by ending the outdated practice of open burning/open detonation,” said Senator Perez. “Additionally, reducing toxic exposures can address or prevent chronic health issues that our community faces. By healing our land, we can heal our people,” added Senator Perez.
SIGN THE PETITION posted here.
LEARN MORE about the open air burning and detonations on Guam here.
GOOD SUMMARY FACT SHEET from the Department of Veterans Affairs is here.