The Pact Act, a bill aimed at protecting veterans exposed to toxic materials during their service was shut down this week in the U.S Senate, in a 55 to 42 vote. Forty-one of the 42 votes against the bill were Republicans, including Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. 

Michael Braman of Knoxville is the past president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Iowa. Over the course of his 19 year career, Braman helped execute over 600 missions in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

Braman wants our help: “I want people to reach out to their Congressmen and their Senators and ask them why. Ask them why are they blocking this bill. This is to help our veterans who were exposed to toxins. We need to take care of our veterans because right now we are spitting in their face.”

Braman tells KNIA/KRLS News Democratic Representative Cindy Axne and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley voted for the bill, but Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Senator Joni Ernst voted against it. He urges Iowans to contact the offices of Miller-Meeks and Ernst, and ask them to support the bill when it comes up for a vote again in the coming week.