President Joe Biden visited New Hampshire to mark a milestone for the PACT Act, a bipartisan law he signed two years ago to help veterans exposed to burn pits or other poisons receive care easily. The Veterans Affairs recently approved the 1 millionth claim under the law. While the legislation received widespread praise from veterans in the audience, not all are ready to reward him with their votes in November. Navy veteran Paul Lloyd acknowledged the importance of the PACT Act but remains undecided, highlighting that taking care of veterans is a bipartisan issue. However, for others like Gulf War veteran Jeff Zamoida, Biden’s emotional connection to their experiences, including his son Beau’s experience, resonated, prompting them to support him in November.
The PACT Act has already benefited 888,000 veterans who have received a combined $5.7 million in benefits, according to the White House. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough praised the law for helping the administration rebuild trust with veterans, simplifying the process to pursue benefits and providing support to veterans who may have been frustrated with red tape. Biden’s Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, has seen some of his support from the military community decline over the years. While Trump won 60% of voters who served in the military in 2016, that figure dropped to 54% in 2020. In contrast, Biden won 44% of military voters in the 2020 election.
Biden plans to continue to focus on veterans’ issues by participating in Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery and attending ceremonies in Normandy, France, to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. This trip will also be an opportunity for him to draw a contrast with a moment from Trump’s presidency when he allegedly made disparaging remarks about soldiers buried in a cemetery, which Biden has often denounced. Biden’s strategy of courting veterans involves criticizing Trump over these alleged comments while highlighting his own record in office, such as the PACT Act, to win over voters like Gulf War veteran John Barrett, who praised the law for expanding medical conditions recognized for those exposed to burn pits and herbicides.
The emotional connection Biden has to veterans’ experiences, particularly his son Beau’s deployment and subsequent death, resonates with some veterans, encouraging them to support him in November. Biden’s focus on veterans’ issues, such as the PACT Act, has helped the administration rebuild trust with veterans and simplify the process for pursuing benefits. While some veterans remain undecided about their vote in the upcoming election, Biden’s efforts to highlight his record in office and contrast it with moments from Trump’s presidency, such as the alleged disparaging remarks about soldiers, aim to win over more military voters. The upcoming events focusing on veterans’ issues and memorial services indicate Biden’s continued commitment to supporting and honoring military members and their families.
