Boebert defends vote against veterans’ health benefits, saying she didn’t want to spend ‘$600 billion forever’

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) defended her vote against bipartisan legislation that expanded health benefits for veterans, saying Tuesday she didn’t want to spend “$600 billion forever.”

Boebert faced off in a general election debate against her Democratic opponent, Trisha Calvarese. The Democrat pressed Boebert to explain why she didn’t support the landmark “Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act,” which expanded benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins during service and are suffering illnesses as a result.

“If you’re going to take care of folks, what about our veterans, Lauren? You know, because you’re talking about lots of cuts and how to pay for things. I think if you’re going to be America first, you can’t put veterans last,” Calvarese said to Boebert during the lunchtime debate in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

“I do just want to point to your vote that — you voted against care for veterans exposed to cancer-causing toxins and burn pits during war,” Calvarese added.

Boebert responded, saying, “When it comes to our veterans. I have absolutely put them first. In my first year, we were in the minority, and unfortunately not all the legislation was great.”

The Republican said she voted against some massive omnibus bills that might have supported veterans, because “I’m not voting for something that we have 22 hours to read that’s over 2,000 pages long.”

The House and Senate each passed the PACT Act in July 2022, and Biden signed it into law a short time later. All Democrats and a majority of Republicans in both chambers voted for the legislation. Boebert was one of 88 House Republicans who voted against it.

The legislation expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs health care to veterans who served in the post-9/11 era and creates a framework for establishing presumptions of service connections related to toxic exposures. The bill also expands presumptions for 23 burn pit-related illnesses.

When Boebert then mentioned other work she’s done to help veterans, Calvarese said, “The folks in this room are not — they’re not foolish.”

Boebert cut in, saying, “I’m not spending $600 billion forever because we couldn’t get a couple pieces of language right in legislation. Just because a bill is on the floor does not make it the only option.

“I fought so we could have amendments on the House floor. When that bill first came up, I was in the minority, and amendments were closed on the House floor. I could not give a Colorado voice to the men and women who have served in our military on that legislation.”

Before the PACT Act was signed, some Republicans objected to its $400 billion mandatory spending, which would not have been subject to annual appropriations review. After facing tremendous public pressure — including from high-profile allies such as comedian Jon Stewart, who joined veterans camped out on the U.S. Capitol steps — the Senate agreed to three cost-controlling amendments on the bill, which led a number of Republicans to back it. Eleven Republican senators still voted against it.

The Hill has contacted the Boebert campaign for comment.