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OP-ED: The PACT Act Fulfills Our Obligation to Veterans

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In 1988, Operation Ranch Hand scientist and Air Force researcher Dr. James Clary wrote to Senator Tom Daschle that “when we initiated the herbicide program in the 1960s, we were aware of the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in the herbicide.
The post OP-ED: The PACT Act Fulfills Our Obligation to Veterans first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2023

Oakland Post

By: Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn

The United States has long been described as a nation of ideas. The founding fathers wrote that “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence…mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” This closing line of the Declaration of Independence underscored that the founders of this great country were willing to put their lives on the line to protect the God-given freedoms we continue to hold dear. Today, our brave servicemembers carry on that torch, entering dangerous circumstances to secure our unalienable rights.

In return, we have a solemn responsibility to prepare those we send into harm’s way and care for them and their families when they return home. This is a promise we have not always kept. And the impacts have often been devastating. But Democrats, under the leadership of President Joe Biden, are taking giant steps to right these wrongs and fulfill this sacred obligation.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military engaged in an aggressive chemical warfare program, codenamed Operation Ranch Hand, to eliminate forest cover and destroy crops attempting to gain military advantage over North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops. More than 20 million gallons of various herbicides doused roads, rivers, rice paddies, and farmland across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, causing massive environmental devastation. Several herbicides were manufactured, commonly referred to as Agent Pink, Agent Green, Agent Purple, Agent White, Agent Blue, and the most widely used, Agent Orange.

When American troops began returning home after the war, many of them and their families began reporting strange symptoms and afflictions, from painful rashes to miscarriages, birth defects, cancers, and varying diseases. In 1988, Operation Ranch Hand scientist and Air Force researcher Dr. James Clary wrote to Senator Tom Daschle that “when we initiated the herbicide program in the 1960s, we were aware of the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in the herbicide. However, none of us were overly concerned because the material was to be used on the enemy. We never considered a scenario in which our personnel would become contaminated with the herbicide.”

Dioxin, the dangerous byproduct produced by herbicides, was found in all herbicides used in Vietnam. It is also the byproduct of trash incineration or burn pits. Doctors raised concerns about the impacts of burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan as early as 2004 but were publicly ignored by the U.S. government and military. The Department of Defense has since closed out most burn pits and plans to close out those that remain, but they have already caused significant harm to our veterans.

Last year, under the leadership of President Biden, Congress finally acted to address these harms. August 10, 2023, marks 1 year since the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act was signed into law — the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in decades.

This law significantly expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Since the PACT Act was enacted, more than 785,000 veterans have applied or submitted claims for PACT Act-related benefits, and more than 4.1 million have undergone screening for toxic substance exposure. The PACT Act also helps the VA be more responsive to veterans’ needs. It authorizes the VA to expand their workforce and construct 31 new VA facilities across the country to meet the growing demand for services and care. The outdated system of determining presumptive status for medical conditions has been modernized, and the VA will conduct research to better understand veterans’ health trends. To detect early signs of toxic exposure-related diseases, the VA has started proactively screening every enrolled veteran for poisonous exposure and will provide follow-up screenings every five years.

We must continue to honor our veterans by providing them with the care and support they need to live safe, healthy lives after they return home. One year after President Biden signed it into law, it is clear the PACT Act is delivering on this sacred commitment.

The post OP-ED: The PACT Act Fulfills Our Obligation to Veterans first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Target Takes a Hit: $12.4 Billion Wiped Out as Boycotts Grow

Target Corporation’s stock plummeted by approximately $27.27 per share by the end of February, erasing about $12.4 billion in market value. The drop came on February 28, the designated economic blackout day, and coincided with mounting backlash over the retailer’s decision to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. The National Newspaper Publishers Association […]

Published

4 days ago

March 2, 2025

Stacy Brown

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has taken action through its Public Education and Selective Buying Campaign. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said, “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard. If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken.”

Reverend Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, has led calls for a “40-Day Target Fast,” urging Black consumers to withhold their spending at the retailer. “Black people spend $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant said. “If we withhold our dollars, we can make a statement that cannot be ignored.”

The NAACP also issued a Black Consumer Advisory in response to Target’s DEI rollback, warning Black consumers about corporate retreat from diversity initiatives. The advisory urges them to support businesses that remain committed to investing in Black communities.

Target is also facing legal battles. Shareholders have filed lawsuits challenging the company’s DEI policies, arguing that the commitments hurt financial performance. Meanwhile, conservative groups have sued over Target’s diversity efforts, claiming they discriminated against white employees and other groups.

“Consumers have the power to demand change, and Target is learning that lesson the hard way,” Chavis said.

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BREAKING Groundbreaking Singer Angie Stone Dies in Car Accident at 63

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia The music and entertainment world reacted in shock and sorrow after the tragic death of Angie Stone, the pioneering singer-songwriter and hip-hop trailblazer who was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning in Montgomery, Alabama. She was 63. Stone’s publicist, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed the […]

Published

5 days ago

March 1, 2025

Stacy Brown

By Stacy M. Brown

BlackPressUSA Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

The music and entertainment world reacted in shock and sorrow after the tragic death of Angie Stone, the pioneering singer-songwriter and hip-hop trailblazer who was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning in Montgomery, Alabama. She was 63.

Stone’s publicist, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed the devastating news, stating that her family is heartbroken. “A number of her loved ones had just spoken to her last night,” Champagne told TMZ.

Born Angela Brown, Stone first rose to prominence as a member of The Sequence, hip-hop’s first all-female rap group. Their 1979 hit Funk You Up became one of the earliest rap records to break into the mainstream, later sampled in Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and Dr. Dre’s Keep Their Heads Ringin’. After her years with The Sequence, Stone launched a solo career in the late 1990s, earning Grammy nominations and releasing celebrated R&B hits like Brotha, No More Rain, and Wish I Didn’t Miss You.

Stone’s career spanned decades, seamlessly blending hip-hop, soul, and R&B. Her debut solo album, Black Diamond, achieved gold status. She earned multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for U-Haul and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Joe for More Than a Woman and with Betty Wright for Baby.

Several of Stone’s peers offered tributes following the devastating news.

Chuck D, the legendary Public Enemy frontman and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, called Stone a foundational figure. “Angie Stone [was] a powerful pioneer whenever I thought of her,” he told Black Press USA. “A foundation of modern soul and hip-hop and women empowerment that she’s still uncredited for. A terrible loss.”

Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Hip Hop Museum, described Stone as a groundbreaking force. “As a member of The Sequence, Angie B helped pave the way for generations of women in hip-hop,” Bucano said in an email to Black Press USA. “Her impact on hip-hop culture is immeasurable, and her presence will be deeply missed. Rest in power, Angie Stone. Your voice and influence will never fade.”

DJ Ralph McDaniels also told Black Press USA that Stone’s artistry mainly was unmatched. “Peaceful journey to our sister Angie Stone,” he said. “Her voice was unique and direct from hip-hop’s female group Sequence to her solo soul songs.”

Dr. Mario Dickens of Mario Dickens Ministries also offered condolences. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of one of this era’s greatest memorable voices,” he said. “We pray for her loved ones and fans,” said Dickens, who extended his company’s memorial printing services to Stone’s family at no cost.

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NAACP Legend and Freedom Fighter Hazel Dukes Passes

“She was a warrior in the truest sense of the word and activist extraordinaire.” Those words are from Reverend Al Sharpton who is celebrating the life and activism of the iconic Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, civil rights activist and leader within the ranks of the New York and National Board of the NAACP. Dukes 92 […]

Published

6 days ago

March 1, 2025

Oakland Post

Just two weeks ago, Dukes was wheelchair bound and present to perform her duty as NAACP Election Supervisory Chair certifying the elections of the rights groups’ board members.

Dr. Ben Chavis, elected in 1993, was the 7th Executive Director and CEO of the NAACP and spoke on the life of Dukes saying, “The transformative leadership legacy of freedom fighter Hazel Dukes will now be enshrined with the greatest honor and respect as a leader of the NAACP in America and throughout the world.”

This morning the Chair of the Board of the NAACP Leon W. Russell told Black Press USA that Dr. Dukes led the NAACP New York Conference for 50 years acknowledging, “Her work has helped ensure that the 116-year-old NAACP could remain relevant and continue its work throughout the years. She has been consistent in her work and her support as a member and a leader.”

Sharpton says she has known her for almost 50 years since he was a teen. “There never was an issue that she was not out front. We’ve gone to jail together and the White House together.”

Sharpton expects to offer comments at Duke’s funeral service. He recalls she was “authentic, committed, and concerned,” The rights leader and TV host also says, “We will never have another Hazel Dukes. But thank God we had this one.”

The NAACP Board was notified of the passing of Dr. Dukes through the following correspondence this morning:

Passing of a Loved One. To God Be The Glory!

Colleagues, it is with a heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness that I inform you of that our sister, Momma Dukes, went to be with the ancestors at 6:20 AM today. Her transition was officially recorded and announced at 6:38 AM. Please lift her up in prayer and continue to pray for her son Ronald and all of her extended family.

It is always hard to send a message like this but as Hazel would say, she is in God’s hands now.

Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference and Member of the NAACP National Board of Directors was bold and courageous. She was a true warrior for civil rights and social justice. Her voice and her influence at our table will be missed, but we will all continue to be influenced by that same voice as we continue to fight for that same cause. Hazel was one of the giants on whose shoulders we will continue to stand as we continue to do God’s work here on Earth.

I will keep you informed as arrangements are announced and finalized. Please know that Hazel passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people who loved her and clergy who knew and pastored to her.

May our sister Hazel rest in power.

With a heavy heart.

Leon W. Russell

Chairman

NAACP National Board of Directors