Last Updated on 05/09/2024 by Arun jain
Colorado Rep. Lorraine Bobert said she voted against the bill to increase healthcare benefits for veterans in burn pits because she didn’t want to spend “a billion dollars forever” on vague legislation.
The topic came up as she sparred with her Democratic opponent, Trisha Calvares, in their first and possibly only debate Tuesday. He is running for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District seat.
Calvares probed Bobert about his controversial vote against him PACT Actwhich provides healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxic substances.
In August 2022, both houses of Congress passed the bill with overwhelming support, and President Joe Biden signed it into law.
Bill Extended health coverage For the estimated 3.5 million former soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where burn pits were used to dispose of garbage, sewage and medical waste. Exposure to this toxin has been linked to respiratory problems and cancer.
“I think if you’re going to be America first, you can’t put veterans last,” Calvares said, referring to Bobert’s “no” vote on the bill.
“I just want to point out your vote that you voted against cancer-causing poisons and the care of veterans who burned pits during the war,” Calvares added.
Bobert defended her vote, saying she “refused to vote for something that we had 22 hours to read, which is over 2,000 pages long.”
The Denver Post informed Boebert added that he was “not willing to spend a billion dollars forever because we couldn’t get a few pieces of language into the law.”
During their debate, Calvares and Bobert also sparred over topics such as the national debt and the minimum wage, according to the Denver Post.
Bobert’s representatives did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment, which was sent outside business hours.
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