Jon Stewart Fumes After VA Meeting On Covering Vets Affected By Uranium: ‘I Believe Punting Is the Correct Term’

Zachary LeemanJul 27th, 2024, 11:31 am
 
Jon Stewart Says His Kids Wouldn't Be Here If Anti-IVF Republicans Had Their Way

Screenshot via The Weekly Show

Jon Stewart accused the Department of Veteran Affairs of “punting” the ball after a Friday meeting in which troop were told they’d need to wait even longer to see if they are covered for uranium exposure while deployed.

Stewart has been a vocal advocate for veterans and 9/11 first responders and he and some American troops met with Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to discuss helping veterans exposed to uranium while overseas. The meeting ended with the secretary saying “additional information” is needed.

“The secretary today said he has the authority statutorily to make the change, to make sure the K2 veterans are covered presumptively,” Stewart said, according to the Associated Press.

The Daily Show host said the VA office is simply delaying.

“I believe punting is the correct term for what happened,” Stewart said.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, soldiers were deployed to Karshi-Khanabad, Uzbekistan (otherwise known as K2). The soldiers were exposed to uranium at a former Soviet Union base and for two decades they have been waiting to see if this radiation exposure will be covered by the VA. Radiation levels in the area were 40,000 times what would have registered had it been natural uranium, and the research showing this goes all the way back to November 2001.

Stewart previously helped push the PACT Act into law in 2022. The legislation greatly widened coverage for veterans exposed to toxins while deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The delay in decisions, however, has led to very real consequences. Soldiers have died from exposure over the years, including some deployed to K2. Stewart noted in 2022 that he knew two veterans trying to get help who committed suicide while waiting on Congress to pass the PACT Act.

A VA spokesperson claimed the department is “urgently” looking at the K2 cases.

“We continue to urgently consider every option to further assist these veterans and survivors, and we will keep them apprised every step of the way,” the spokesperson said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stewart called for the next meeting to take place at the White House, arguing it’s the only way for urgent action to be taken.

“Getting these guys in front of DoD does nothing because they’re going to obfuscate, but getting them in front of the White House would be really important,” he said.

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Zachary Leeman

Zachary Leeman covered pop culture and politics at outlets such as Breitbart, LifeZette, BizPac Review, HollywoodinToto, and others. He is the author of the novel Nigh. He joined Mediaite in 2022.