WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today announced he would be voting in favor of the “Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022” (PACT Act), after the Senate was allowed a vote on an amendment to the legislation from Senator Pat Toomey, R-Pa. Wicker had joined 40 other Senate Republicans in asking for the change to the legislation, which would have ensured national Democrats could not fill a $400 billion budget hole with unrelated spending.

“The PACT Act is an important step forward for veterans who have been denied their benefits for too long, and I look forward to seeing it passed without further delay,” Wicker said. “I appreciated Senator Pat Toomey for leading the effort to help make this legislation better for veterans and their families who do not want to see the federal government use their cause to spend billions on unrelated priorities. Senate Republicans will continue our efforts to ensure these funds are spent only on veterans.”

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer allowed the Senate to proceed to a vote on Senator Toomey’s amendment after previously blocking efforts to vote on the change. The amendment, which would not have affected veterans benefits by a single dollar, failed to reach the 60-vote threshold. Senate Republicans will have additional opportunities to address the funding loophole through the appropriations process, which will proceed later this year.