Congress pushes bills to expand VA benefits for 9/11 Pentagon workers, radiation-exposed vets, and ALS veterans’ families.

Congress is advancing legislation to expand VA benefits for veterans exposed to hazardous materials, including those who reported to duty at the Pentagon after 9/11 and veterans with radiation exposure lacking documented dosage records. Bills like H.R. 5339 would extend PACT Act-style benefits to Pentagon personnel from September 11 to November 2001, while H.R. 4469, the PRESUME Act, would eliminate the need for dose records in radiation claims. H.R. 1685 would extend compensation to surviving spouses of veterans with ALS. Backed by bipartisan support, the measures aim to provide health care and disability benefits to thousands currently excluded from existing programs.