RAND PAUL sought to DIVERT FUNDS from  ‘WAR’ / FOREIGN AID in order to ASSIST VETERANS…
Meanwhile, the mainstream media – and extremist liberal spin – say he wants to block funds for injured soldiers.

“We absolutely must take care of those who were harmed in service to our country, which is why I introduced an amendment yesterday to pay for hundreds of billions of dollars for veterans’ health care,” … “Unfortunately my colleagues did not support my efforts.”
– Rand Paul

Source: Louisville Courier Journal

Rand Paul one of 11 senators to vote against PACT veterans health care bill. Here’s why.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was one of 11 Republican U.S. senators to vote “no” on the PACT Act, which allocates funding to veterans who were exposed to toxic waste pits and Agent Orange, a defoliant used widely during the Vietnam War.

The act would allow these U.S. veterans to have more access to health care, but Paul said this could have dangerous economic implications.

The bill passed through the Senate in a vote of 86-11. It will now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

“This bill puts our economy, though, at risk by creating presumptions of service connection for the most common ailments,” he said in a video of his remarks on the Senate floor.

Paul went on to explain that hypertension and asthma had the potential to be covered, and said this had the potential to cost “hundreds of millions of dollars in a time where the national debt is climbing over $30 trillion and inflation is at a 40-year high.” Instead, he suggested an amendment to the bill, which would cut foreign aid in order to pay for these services. [emphasis added by RBN]

His amendment ended up failing 90-7.

“We absolutely must take care of those who were harmed in service to our country, which is why I introduced an amendment yesterday to pay for hundreds of billions of dollars for veterans’ health care,” Paul said. “Unfortunately my colleagues did not support my efforts.”

Paul also cited other bills he has supported to care for veterans, including The Healthcare for Burn Pit Victims Act and the VA Mission Act.

More on Rand Paul:Rand Paul knocks Charles Booker for traveling to flood-ravaged Eastern Kentucky

The video of him discussing the potential economic impact went viral and drew criticism from many people, including former Kentucky state Rep. Charles Booker, Paul’s Democratic opponent in the Nov. 8 election.

Rand Paul just announced that he opposes the PACT Act because veterans cannot prove they got health issues while serving in combat.

He is absolutely shameful, and has made a mockery of the office he occupies. I will defeat him.

— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) August 2, 2022

Podcast host and Army veteran Fred Wellman cited more specific numbers in his criticism of Paul, noting there are 7 million surviving veterans of the Vietnam War and millions more from the War on Terror that could benefit.

There are about 7M surviving Vietnam vets. They are in their 70’s now. Probably around 3M total GWOT vets. Rand Paul wants them to have a harder time getting healthcare for their illnesses because…you know…budgets. We need to die faster and save those taxes! https://t.co/iSVVv6wtR2

— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) August 2, 2022

Comedian Jon Stewart is a large proponent of this bill, and went viral after passionately explaining his anger when several Republican senators voted against advancing this bill last week.

Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at emccrary@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ellie_mccrary.