CA, US & World
Coachella Valley Reacts to PACT Act Legislation, Remembering Veteran Jennifer Kepner
It was a huge day for millions of veterans across the country.
All with the help of one Coachella Valley congressman who led the charge in Washington D.C.
“I was so full of mixed emotions,” Congressman Raul Ruiz shared. “In the early years, I just kept facing barriers after barriers. With a lot of advocacy, President Biden made it a priority. After that turning point, the debate wasn’t fighting for the recognition that burn pits’ toxic smoke can cause these illnesses. Now, since the VA recognizes it, the fight was to expand the amount of illnesses that would get presumptive benefits.”
And expansion they got.
Congressman Raul Ruiz has been pushing for this legislation to pass for nearly five years.
As the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Burn Pits Caucus, he has helped lead the charge to address the military’s lethal use of burn pits overseas.
With the PACT Act being signed into law, it will increase access to medical care and disability payments for veterans who were exposed to burn pits.
Veterans also won’t be required to prove they got sick from the burn pits in order to receive compensation.
Experts say the bipartisan bill is the most significant expansion of veteran health care benefits in over 30 years.
The issue is personal for many.
“When they came home, many of the fittest and best warriors that we sent to war were not the same,” President Joe Biden shared. “Headaches, numbness, dizziness, cancer. My son Beau was one of them.”
Not just for the president, but for many right here at home.
“My heart was in mourning for Jennifer Kepner,” Dr. Ruiz said. “I was thinking of her children, Adia and Wyatt, and widow Ben. I gave her my word when she was dying. I was on a mission to fulfill my promise. Many died during this fight, and so it became very personal.”
Jennifer Kepner, a Cathedral City veteran, died from pancreatic cancer in 2017.
The cancer was linked to her burn pit exposure when she was serving as an Air Force Medic in Balad, Iraq.
For her friends and family, it’s been a long journey.
“My wife, Jennifer, her friends, and her family are on a mission to get answers,” Ben Kepner, Jennifer’s husband, shared.
But the work isn’t done.
“One is to really do an aggressive outreach and educate our veterans and their families about this law,” Dr. Ruiz continued. “In addition to that, get the Department of Defense to stop using burn pits. They’re currently using six burn pits. This is a self inflicted wound that the military does to our servicemen and women that causes delayed casualties of war.”
This act rolls out in three phases.
A third of the illnesses listed will be put into effect immediately, with another third in a year, and the remaining third in two years.
But anybody with severe illness or symptoms right now is able to automatically receive benefits.
For more information on this new legislation, click here.
By: Carmela Karcher
August 10, 2022
Latest Instagram Posts
Talking With Thalia: GLP-1 medications have become a popular tool for weight loss, but what you eat while taking them matters, too. Local dietitian Jessica Brantley Lopez shares the importance of protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber and hydration, along with why smaller, more frequent meals may help manage side effects and support healthy weight loss. Jessica also opens up about her own experience with GLP-1 medication and how it changed her approach to helping others. Talking With Thalia is sponsored by DAP Health. Watch the full conversation at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TalkingWithThalia #DAPHealth #GLP1 #WeightLoss #Nutrition Dietitian HealthToday CoachellaValley PalmSprings NBCPalmSprings
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are one step closer to completing their $110 billion merger after a coalition of 12 state attorneys general reached a settlement with Paramount. The settlement resolves the states’ antitrust lawsuit, though it still requires court approval. The agreement includes commitments involving film production, workers and editorial independence for CNN and CBS News. California AG CNN’s Brian Stelter reports. #Paramount #WarnerBrosDiscovery #ParamountMerger #CNN #Hollywood #Media #Merger #Entertainment
A high-speed police chase in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, came to a dramatic end when the vehicle plunged into Lake Como. Dashcam video released by police shows the pursuit before the car crashes into the water. Four people inside the vehicle were pulled from the lake with no serious injuries reported. Police say the driver was charged with reckless driving. Watch the video and get more at NBCPalmSprings.com.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
As fall approaches, it’s time to start thinking about your annual flu shot. The CDC recommends flu vaccination every season for nearly everyone 6 months and older, and September or October is generally the ideal time for most people to get vaccinated. The 2026-27 flu vaccines have been updated to target the strains expected to circulate this season. There’s also a new option this year: Moderna’s mFLUSIVA, the first FDA-approved mRNA flu vaccine, for adults 50 and older. Talk with your health care provider about which flu vaccine is right for you and make a plan to get vaccinated this fall. Learn more about DAP Health at DAPHealth.org. #FluSeason #FluShot #FluVaccine #DAPHealth #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Health #Wellness #NBCPalmSprings
Murder Suspect Vicky Kim was set to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center today following her recent medical clearance to appear in court, but refused. However, she may be forced to appear should she refuse again. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we follow the latest developments of this case #VickyKim #arraignment #courtupdate #riversidecounty
🚨 20 ARRESTS. 6 GUNS SEIZED. Cathedral City Police report 20 arrests and six handgun seizures following two days of enforcement tied to a Mongols Motorcycle Club gathering. Police also issued 77 citations and impounded 14 vehicles. The operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies and was four weeks in the making. #CathedralCity #BreakingNews #Mongols #CoachellaValley #PublicSafety
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry: last day of summer!
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1 Silias Bloodworth with the scoop and score, 2) Eusebio Gallo with the kickoff touchdown, 3) Keymorie Rogers with the throw on the run, 4) Damian Durinzi with the rushing TD, or 5) Mario Gallo with the dot towards the endzone #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
Hundreds gathered outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” rally, protesting President Donald Trump’s handling of the performing arts center. The demonstration came after the Kennedy Center board voted to close the facility for repairs and amid an ongoing dispute over the center’s future. Actress and singer Lynda Carter was among those who addressed the crowd. apnews.com Watch the latest video on NBC Palm Springs.