The fight to pass The PACT Act, a Midstate Soldier’s story
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – abc27 first introduced you to Mechanicsburg father and husband Scott Laird back in 2017, when the Cumberland County soldier was celebrated before he deployed overseas.
On November 1, 2021, Scott was laid to rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery after a 6-month battle with stage IV colon cancer.
Scott was denied benefits from the VA that could have saved his life, now an act that passed nationally ensures other military members won’t be. The PACT Act.
Scott was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer on May 10, 2021. Prior to the passage of the PACT Act, the VA denied Scott’s claim that his cancer was caused by burn pits. After 5 months of waiting, denial. He died a month later.
Scott even had a letter from his doctor, stating he had “constant exposure to the burning of medical waste and all trash,” while stationed in Iraq in 2009. Scott was one of many soldiers who had similar experiences.
“This happened to real people, they existed, and they mattered,” said Widow of Scott, Michelle Laird.
Michelle took on Scott’s claim with the VA after he passed, fighting on the other side, in his honor. “The fight was absolutely worth it,” she said.
President Joe Biden signed The PACT Act on August 10, 2022.
“The PACT ACT has actually really helped us personally since Scott’s condition was one of the presumptive conditions that was listed with the PACT Act, that made us eligible for dependency
and indemnity compensation through the VA,” Michelle said.
Michelle added that it gave her the sense of security she needed after just losing her husband, and the father of their two sons, “I wanted to keep them from anything that more traumatic.”
Michelle was also not alone; she had the help of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including United States Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a sponsor of the bipartisan bill that is now law.
“Michelle suffered a loss that is immeasurable, there’s no way to quantify what she lost when Scott lost his life and he lost his life because his government had failed him,” said Senator Casey.
Casey says it is now time to rebuild trust and make sure all veterans know this act exists before it is too late or before an illness may present itself.
“It is important they consult their doctor and all healthcare professionals to make an assessment and begin the process,” said Casey.
Casey said over 800,000 PACT Act claims have been approved by the VA nationwide. He said it is now time for the country to follow through, “and we have got to make sure that people have a constant reminder of what those veterans made to receive that guarantee.”
A reminder that will be ever-present for the Lairds and other families, that didn’t have to be.
Michelle shared a message to herself and others, looking back.
“The weight of Scott’s loss is always going to be with me and it’s hard every day. It’s just like carrying around a weight in your chest and it’s hard even when there are really happy times, you’re just wishing he could be here with us. But it does get better with time, easier, and the boys will be ok. So just keep trying.”
If you are a veteran who was exposed to these burn pits, you can now make a claim under disability benefits on the veteran’s affairs website.
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