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Key Takeaway
Blackburn initially blocked the PACT Act that expanded healthcare for veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances — then voted for it only after intense public backlash from veterans’ advocacy groups.
The Timeline of Blackburn’s PACT Act Reversal
The sequence of events surrounding Blackburn’s PACT Act votes is worth examining in detail. On June 16, 2022, the Senate passed the PACT Act 84-14, with broad bipartisan support. The bill then went back to the House for a minor technical fix. When it returned to the Senate for final passage, on July 27, 2022, Blackburn was among 25 Republicans who voted to block the bill on a procedural vote — despite having voted for it just weeks earlier.
The reversal sparked immediate outrage. Veteran advocate Jon Stewart held press conferences on the Capitol steps, calling out the senators who switched their votes. Veterans camped outside the Capitol in protest. The public backlash was intense and sustained. Within days, Blackburn reversed course again and voted Yes on final passage on August 2, 2022. The bill passed 86-11.
Mountain Home VA and the Veterans of Northeast Tennessee
East Tennessee has one of the highest concentrations of military veterans in the state. The Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City serves veterans across a multi-county region. Many of these veterans served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where burn pit exposure was routine at forward operating bases. The PACT Act ensures these veterans can access VA healthcare for conditions linked to toxic exposure without having to prove a direct service connection — a burden that previously left many veterans without coverage for cancers and respiratory illnesses clearly linked to their service.
What Blackburn’s Initial No Vote Revealed
Blackburn’s initial vote to block the PACT Act, followed by her reversal under public pressure, revealed a pattern that voters should consider. When the political cost of opposing the bill became clear, she changed her position. The question for voters is whether a leader who only supports veterans when the cameras are rolling and the pressure is on will be a reliable advocate for Tennessee’s veteran community as governor — particularly on issues that don’t generate the same level of national media attention.
Blackburn Voted No on the PACT Act Before Public Backlash Forced a Reversal
On July 27, 2022, Senator Marsha Blackburn voted No on a key procedural vote that temporarily stalled the PACT Act—the most significant expansion of VA healthcare and benefits for toxic-exposed veterans in decades. The bill, which extended coverage to veterans suffering from illnesses linked to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures during military service, had already passed the Senate once with bipartisan support. Blackburn’s No vote was part of a Republican effort to block the bill over a procedural dispute.
Jon Stewart, Public Outrage, and the Vote Blackburn Changed
The vote to block the PACT Act generated enormous public outcry. Veterans groups, including comedian and activist Jon Stewart, held vigils on the Capitol steps. Veterans across the country—including many in Tennessee—called their senators’ offices demanding action. Facing overwhelming pressure, Blackburn reversed course and voted Yes on final passage days later. But the initial No vote revealed where her instincts lay when the cameras were not rolling.
East Tennessee’s Veteran Community
Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District has one of the highest concentrations of military veterans in the state. The Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City serves thousands of veterans across upper East Tennessee, and the region’s military service tradition runs deep. Many of these veterans served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other deployments where burn pit exposure was routine. The PACT Act ensured they would receive the care and benefits they earned—and Blackburn’s initial vote to block it was a betrayal of that commitment.
Healthcare and Benefits the PACT Act Now Guarantees
The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act expanded VA healthcare eligibility to millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances, created a presumptive service connection for conditions linked to burn pit exposure, extended Agent Orange coverage to veterans who served in Thailand and other locations, and significantly expanded the VA’s capacity to deliver care. For veterans in the TN-1 region who have been fighting for recognition of their toxic exposure injuries, this law was life-changing.
Why the Initial No Vote Matters More Than the Final Yes
Blackburn ultimately voted for the PACT Act on final passage, but her initial procedural No vote—which temporarily delayed benefits for millions of sick veterans—tells a more complete story. When the political calculation favored obstruction, she chose obstruction. When public pressure became too intense, she reversed course. East Tennessee veterans deserve a senator—and now a potential governor—who supports them on the first vote, not just the last one.
Burn Pit Exposure Rates Among Tennessee Service Members
Tennessee is home to more than 450,000 veterans, one of the largest veteran populations in the Southeast. Many of these veterans served in Iraq and Afghanistan where burn pits — open-air pits used to incinerate waste including chemicals, medical materials, and other hazardous substances — were a standard practice on military bases. Exposure to burn pit smoke has been linked to respiratory conditions, cancers, and other serious illnesses.
The PACT Act expanded VA healthcare eligibility and disability compensation for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, including Agent Orange. Before the PACT Act, many veterans struggled to prove that their illnesses were connected to their service, facing lengthy appeals and denials of benefits. The law created a presumption of service connection for certain conditions, streamlining the process for veterans to access the care they earned.
How National Attention Forced a Reversal in 48 Hours
Blackburn’s initial vote against the PACT Act generated immediate and intense backlash from veterans’ organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and high-profile veteran advocates like comedian Jon Stewart, who had championed the legislation. The public pressure campaign — which included viral social media moments and sustained media coverage of veterans camping outside the Capitol — ultimately contributed to enough senators changing their votes to pass the bill.
Blackburn ultimately voted for the final passage of the PACT Act, but the initial opposition left a lasting impression on veteran advocacy groups in Tennessee. The sequence of events — opposing the bill, facing public backlash, then reversing course — raised questions about whether her initial vote reflected her genuine position or a political calculation that backfired.
East Tennessee has a particularly high concentration of veterans, with multiple VA facilities in the region including the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City. How a governor supports these facilities, advocates for federal funding, and coordinates state services with the VA system matters enormously to the veteran community. Blackburn’s initial PACT Act opposition remains a relevant data point for veterans evaluating her gubernatorial candidacy.
Related: See also Blackburn’s vote against COVID relief and her vote against the Violence Against Women Act.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did Blackburn vote against the PACT Act for veterans?
Blackburn initially voted No on a key procedural vote on July 27, 2022 that stalled the PACT Act. After widespread public backlash led by veteran advocate Jon Stewart, she reversed course and voted Yes on final passage.
What does the PACT Act do for veterans?
The PACT Act expands VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during military service. It is the largest expansion of veteran healthcare in decades.
How many veterans in East Tennessee are affected?
East Tennessee has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the state. The Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City serves thousands of veterans, many of whom were exposed to toxic substances during service.
Sources
- Senate Roll Call Vote 249: PACT Act Procedural Vote (July 27, 2022)
- Senate Roll Call Vote 262: PACT Act Final Passage (August 2, 2022)
- VA: The PACT Act and Your VA Benefits
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