PENNSYLVANIA – Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Chris Deluzio joined members of the Veterans for Casey coalition and voters in Pittsburgh for a campaign event in support of Senator Bob Casey’s re-election.
“I think we all know in this country we have a sacred obligation in this country to care for our fellow veterans,” [Rep. Deluzio] said. “That takes action down in Washington. I wish I could say there was a unanimous view down there. There isn’t.”
The PACT Act expands veterans’ benefits to cover illnesses caused by toxic exposures suffered in the military. Casey and Kelly supported the legislation, but some Republicans were “willing to vote against care for burn pit-exposed veterans, toxic exposed veterans,” Deluzio said.
[Mayor of Washington JoJo] Burgess said McCormick got rich by profiting off investments in China — he specifically mentioned McCormick investments in Chinese steel (Burgess is a steelworker and a veteran). Casey, he said, fought for provisions that ensure American-made steel is used in infrastructure projects and saved 1,200 steelworking jobs in Butler County.
McCormick, Kelly said, “invested as CEO of Bridgewater, heavily, in the manufacturing of Chinese bombers and planes. Those are the same fighter aircraft that would go up against us, our pilots for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and our ground forces, if we were ever in conflict with the Chinese.”
“Bob has been a leader on veterans issues during my time in the Senate, which is three-and-a-half years now,” Kelly told a group of around a dozen supporters, some of them veterans. “And he’s key to maintaining the majority so we can continue to get things done for veterans and get bipartisan legislation done.”
Kelly held up Casey’s past support for the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) act, a law that expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances.
Rep. Deluzio: “Senator Casey is a guy that we can count on. That pushed hard to get the PACT Act passed. And Senator Casey also pushed hard to make sure there are provisions to improve staffing at rural VA facilities in places all over Pennsylvania.”
Reporter: Senator Bob Casey is fighting to keep his seat in Pennsylvania. Vets for Casey held a campaign event with Representative Chris Deluzio in Ross township. He highlighted Casey’s role in expanding health care for veterans.
