Speaker 1: (00:00)
In DC, comedian and veteran advocate, John Stewart is calling on US senators to stay on Capitol Hill until they pass the Honoring our PACT Act. The PACT Act, for short, is legislation that would expand healthcare access for veterans who became ill due to exposure from toxic burn pits during their military service. The bill was expected to pass with bipartisan support last week until a group of GOP senators voted it down at the last minute.
Speaker 2: (00:27)
Senators start rolling back in here. I don’t know if you know this, but they’re allowed to stay open past five. They’re not a public library. They’re allowed to stay open past five. So my suggestion to this Senate would be when you come back, if all the members aren’t here, keep the lights on, keep the doors open and don’t leave here tonight until you do the right thing by these folks. Simple as that. Don’t make this harder than it is.
Speaker 1: (01:00)
A senior democratic aid says a new vote on the PACT Act could happen this week, but senators will also have to vote on two amendments to the legislation before they can take a final vote on the measure.