 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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Fund for veterans exposed to toxics faces chopping block |
Democratic lawmakers and veterans' groups are fuming over a provision in the stopgap federal spending bill passed by lawmakers this week. |
© (AP Photo/Simon Klingert, File |
The provision would cut a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) fund meant to cover costs for illnesses linked to military burn pits and other chemical exposure. The six-month government spending package, which largely holds federal spending at fiscal year 2024 levels, would cut the Toxic Exposures Fund (TEF) for the VA next year. The controversial fund was meant to allot $22.8 billion to cover expanded benefits for former service members sickened by military toxic exposures — including burn pit smoke and Agent Orange water contamination — starting October 1, 2025. But the continuing resolution (CR) drafted and passed by House Republicans zeros out funding that would have been used for the TEF in the fall. "It cuts more than $20 billion in funding needed to provide care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances next year," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on the Senate floor Thursday. "It cannot pass." The Senate is voting on the stopgap Friday evening. Veterans groups were also unhappy with the move, with the liberal VoteVets warning that cutting the fund "will cost lives" in social media posts. Read more from The Hill's Ellen Mitchell. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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(AP) — Vice President JD Vance toured a Michigan plastics manufacturing facility on Friday, promoting a promised Trump administration industrial renaissance nationwide even as jitters about rising tariffs and steep drops in consumer confidence and financial markets point to the opposite. |
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Tornadoes can (and have) hit every U.S. state, but the area nicknamed Tornado Alley is probably where your mind goes when you think of dangerous twisters. This year, that’s not be the region of highest concern, according to an AccuWeather severe outlook released this month. |
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Canada has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), asking it to dispute consultations with the U.S. regarding the tariffs on certain aluminum and steel products coming from Ottawa. |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Raúl Grijalva remembered as champion for tribal communities across Arizona (Arizona Mirror) Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, according to NASA analysis (ABC News)
Could Trump's trade war affect Wisconsin's electric grid? (Wisconsin Public Radio)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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The Senate inched closer to funding the government before the deadline Friday. Read more |
| A group of 10 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), on Friday voted to advance a Republican-crafted bill to fund the government through Sept. 30, taking a crucial step toward avoiding a government shutdown while infuriating many within their party. Read more |
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Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: |
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