(The Hill) — Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado defended her vote against a bipartisan bill to expand health insurance benefits for veterans, saying Tuesday she does not want to spend “$600 billion forever.”
Boebert confronted in a general election debate against her Democratic opponent, Trisha Calvarese. The Democrat pressed Boebert to explain why she did not support the landmark Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which expanded benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins during their service and suffer from disease as a result.
“If you care about the people, what about our veterans, Lauren? You talk about a lot of cuts and how things are going to be paid for. I think if America comes first, you can’t put veterans last,” Calvarese told Boebert during the midday debate in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.
“I just want to point out your vote – you voted against providing care for veterans who were exposed to carcinogenic poisons and burn pits during the war,” Calvarese added.
Boebert responded, “When it comes to our veterans, they are absolutely my number one priority. In my first year, we were in the minority and unfortunately not all of the legislation was great.”
The Republican said she voted against some enormous omnibus bills that might have benefited veterans because, “I’m not going to vote for something that we have 22 hours to read and that’s over 2,000 pages long.”
The House and Senate passed the PACT Act in July 2022, and Biden signed it shortly thereafter. All Democrats and a majority of Republicans in both chambers voted for the bill. Boebert was one of 88 Republicans in the House who voted against It.
The law expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs health care to veterans who deployed after 9/11 and creates a framework for establishing service connection presumptions related to toxic exposures. The law also expands presumptions for 23 burn pit-related illnesses.
When Boebert then mentioned what other work she has done to support veterans, Calvarese said, “The people in this room are not – they are not stupid.”
Boebert interrupted and said, “I’m not going to spend $600 billion forever just because we got some language wrong in the bill. Just because a bill is on the table doesn’t mean it’s the only option.”
“I fought to get amendments passed in the House. When this bill first came up, I was in the minority and amendments were defeated in the House. I was unable to give the men and women who served in our military a voice on this bill.”
Before the PACT Act was signed, some Republicans objected to the $400 billion mandatory spending, which would not have been subject to annual budget scrutiny. After enormous public pressure – including from prominent allies such as comedian Jon Stewart, who joined veterans camped on the steps of the U.S. Capitol – the Senate approved three cost-control amendments to the bill, prompting a number of Republicans to support it. Eleven Republican senators are still voted against.
The Hill has reached out to Boebert’s team for comment.
