Republicans Praise Veterans After Voting Against Health Care Benefits

As the nation celebrates Veterans Day, members of Congress have shared statements honoring those who served our country.

Several Republicans and Democrats alike have praised veterans Friday—including the 11 GOP lawmakers who voted against a law to increase health care benefits to vets.

Congress passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, known as the PACT Act, in August.

The legislation expands health care for millions of American veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and other chemicals, including Agent Orange, during their service in the Vietnam War.

The act passed after Republicans objected in July to the inclusion of $400 billion in mandatory spending that would not be subject to annual appropriations review. Republicans argued that Democrats could use the PACT Act to spend that money on unrelated things.

The bill finally passed with 86 votes for and 11 votes against—all Republicans.

Here's what those 11 Republican senators said about veterans on Veteran's Day after voting against the PACT Act:

Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania

On Friday, Toomey thanked veterans for their sacrifices for our country.

"These brave few have put themselves in harm's way to uphold our freedoms. To all veterans: Thank you for your sacrifice. May God bless those who rise to defend the greatest country on earth," he tweeted.

Before the bill was passed, Toomey called the $400 billion spending provision a "gimmick." He said his concern about the bill "has nothing to do with the purpose of the bill."

Toomey said at the time that the PACT Act "could have passed weeks ago" if Democrats had dropped the spending "boondoggle" that is completely unrelated to veterans. When the final vote came, Toomey voted against the bill.

"The oldest trick in Washington: craft a bill to help vulnerable Americans, and then sneak in an unrelated provision that would never pass on its own," he tweeted. "That's exactly what Dems are doing with the PACT Act."

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky

Paul expressed support for veterans who have served our country, tweeting: "On Veterans Day, we thank those who've made incredible sacrifices for all of us. Days like today give us a chance to show them that we will never forget."

While speaking against the bill in August, Paul said on the Senate floor that we must "take care of our veterans and keep our country strong."

"But this Bill puts our economy at risk by creating presumptions of service connection for the most common of ailments," he added.

Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho

Crapo, who was just re-elected to office on Tuesday, honored "the 116,000 veterans who call Idaho home."

"America's veterans have put their lives on the line to defend our freedom and liberty, and for that we owe them a debt that can never be repaid," he tweeted.

After voting against the earlier version of the bill, Crapo accused Democrats of "pushing a false impression that Republicans don't support veterans."

"I have a strong record of supporting veterans to ensure they have access to high-quality health care, opportunities to thrive following their transition from the military and protecting their Second Amendment rights," Crapo said in a statement.

"I, too, remain committed to Idaho veterans impacted by burn pits and toxic exposure and will continue to support bipartisan legislation that can withstand necessary fiscal standards to ensure solvency and endurance, not additional slush fund spending placed on the American people."

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Tillis posted a video message to veterans, writing as the caption: "Thank you to all the men and women who have bravely served our country and defended our freedoms. Every day we live free is because of your service and dedication to our country, which we will never forget!"

In his video message, Tillis said: "If you're a veteran, or if you know a veteran, who needs help, make sure you contact my office. For as long as I'm in the U.S. Senate, you're gonna to be my top priority."

Back in July, Tillis said he supported the goal of the PACT Act but believed that the "legislation will have adverse operational and administrative impacts."

"While well-intentioned, the PACT Act creates new promises to veterans while breaking existing ones, which is why I could not support its passage," he said in a statement.

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma

On Friday, the newly-re-elected senator celebrated "those who risked their lives for our freedoms" on Twitter.

Lankford said he opposed the PACT Act in July, saying that it would cause delays and complications for veterans seeking medical care.

"I opposed the PACT Act because we should do better at serving our veterans, not worsen the VA backlog and make it even harder for Oklahoma veterans to get the care they need," he wrote on Twitter.

Senator Mike Lee of Utah

The Utah Senator thanked those who "fearlessly defended America" to ensure the next generations share the same freedoms we have today.

After voting no for the PACT Act, Lee said he offered an amendment to the bill.

"Congress has established a system of honoring and recognizing the sacrifices of our veterans by providing them with care and compensation for injuries sustained in service to our nation," his office said in a statement at the time.

"Sen. Lee offered an amendment to protect those veterans entitled to care by preventing resources from being diverted away from them. Without that amendment, taxpayers and countless service members can be wrongfully shortchanged."

Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

Lummis said on Twitter Friday is a day to "honor those who have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms we hold dear."

The day after Lummis voted against the bill, her office said she could support the "price tag and illnesses included" in the legislation.

"While Senator Lummis believes it is critical that we care for veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their service, she could not support this bill because of the price tag and illnesses included," a spokesperson for Lummis told Wyoming news outlet Cowboy State Daily at the time.

Senator James Risch of Idaho

"Let us not forget the brave sacrifice 19 million Americans – nearly 120,000 of whom are Idahoans – have made to defend our freedoms. Happy Veterans Day and God Bless America," Risch tweeted on Friday.

After the PACT ACT vote, a spokesperson for Risch said the senator "wanted to get to 'yes' on this bill," but couldn't.

"It is inappropriate to use a bill for veterans as a backdoor to usher in huge sums of unrelated spending," Risch's spokesperson told Boise news station KTVB.

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah

Romney tweeted Friday that U.S. military veterans "deserve our deepest appreciation and respect—having sacrificed for our freedoms and ideals."

Romney said he voted no on the PACT Act because he had issues with the cost.

"We should absolutely help veterans who have contracted illnesses as a direct result of toxic exposure during their service," the senator said in a statement.

"However, the scope and cost of this bill is astronomical and unjustified. At a total cost of $667 billion, it would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the national debt and would represent a dramatic expansion of qualifying conditions that aren't necessarily service-connected disabilities."

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama

"Thank you to all of the courageous men and women who have selflessly served our country. It's important that we honor their sacrifice," Shelby said in a tweet on Friday.

At the time the bill was passed, Shelby said on Twitter that she wanted to support the PACT Act, "but this budget gimmick must be fixed."

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama

Tuberville shared several videos on his Twitter page showing his support for specific veterans, detailing their service history.

The senator, however, had many concerns about the PACT Act.

"The VA is one of the biggest healthcare systems in the world," he said in a tweet in July. "We need to make sure it runs well for every veteran, and any funding provided shouldn't add to existing issues."