veterans are starting to see changes brought about by the newly signed pact act the law expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances the VA today held events across the state to connect with those who were eligible while marking a poignant anniversary 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War where so many of those soldiers were first exposed Ted Goldberg is standing by at one of those locations Ted how did it go Brianna The Pact Act made life easier for America's veterans who have served over the last five decades and the VA in Lyons is hoping to hook up veterans with the health care they need the VA gave free health screenings to Veterans today who are now eligible those veterans tell me they've suffered from exposure to agent orange and burn pits but they're hopeful that this Access to Health Care will help them that there are some cancers that are more prevalent Among Us who have been exposed to burn pits and that we have to be a lot more mindful we've got to do screenings earlier and we've got it when we have signs we need to address them as soon as possible so that we can get the best treatment options when I was in Columbia Presbyterian in New York City in 2004 for three months fighting leukemia and I put in a claim for that which is caused by Benzene and agent orange as the hematologist and oncologist at Columbia site I got denied and we have a claim back in that to me is very very upsetting because I only had a four percent chance to live but when I came back I right away started having trouble with my joints you know that was the first thing I felt and obviously you know PTSD and all of that you know and ever since then I've had issues anytime I get sick my lungs always hits my my bronchials I always get an infection it's been that way since so you know there's a lot of questions that haven't been answered that I you know that I'm looking for answers these veterans served in Vietnam and the Middle East they tell me that pact Act was badly needed so here in New Jersey we have over a hundred thousand eligible veterans that are not enrolled and we want them to come get their their services that they've earned that they deserve and get those screenings done early and and really any any issues whether it's just a primary care issue and then they can get referred for additional screening and services this was a wonderful thing here today it's a wonderful thing to stand up and get applied for our service in Vietnam when I came home there was no applause you know it was horrifying they didn't get the recognition that a lot of us received when we came home and so we want to be really extra special and mindful of how we do that for them today and to really highlight pact act and what it can do for them as far as additional benefits and eligibility for services there was gas all over the place when we went in there at Lewis site there was mustard it was all over the place it was detected okay and Division in the same day in the same days the vision declared that all those tests were faulty now I have a PDF it's all the first Marine Division activity it's all Declassified I am optimistic you know we'll see what happens plenty of Vietnam veterans came here on what is a notable day today is the 50th anniversary of the last American troops leaving Vietnam only now finding solutions to their Decades of suffering Brianna