JACKSON, Wyo. — Two local veterans want to help fellow veterans better understand the healthcare benefits, compensation and resources that might be available to them because of their service in the United States military.
Ed Liebzeit and T.R. Pierce are hosting experts from the Wyoming Veterans Commission and the Veterans Administration Health Care Department at the American Legion Post Building, on Tuesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. to explain healthcare benefits veterans might be entitled to. Dinner and drinks will be provided for veterans and their families.
In an interview with Buckrail, Liebzeit said the idea for the event was spurred by discussions he had with Pierce following the passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022.
Liebzeit was in the Air Force from 1966 to 1968 and served in Vietnam.
“The thing that got my attention was this recognition [from the U.S. government] that veterans might have served in situations where they were exposed to toxins in some way,” Liebzeit said.
The PACT Act expands healthcare benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other toxic substances during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and any other combat zone after 9/11. The Act also provides benefits and compensation to qualifying surviving spouses, dependent children, dependent parents and children of Vietnam-era veterans with certain birth defects.
“Thank goodness there is finally a way for veterans who gave a reasonable part of their life to service to get some benefits.”
Ed Liebzeit
The PACT Act, was vastly a bipartisan effort, with 11 Republican lawmakers voting against the Act, including Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis.
Heath Robinson was an Ohio resident and veteran who served in Kosovo and Iraq with the Ohio National Guard. He passed away in 2020 from cancer after exposure to burn pits during his service.
According to a recent press release from the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who championed the Act, more than 112,000 veterans have enrolled in VA health care under a PACT Act enrollment authority since 2022 and the VA has received more than 1.4 million claims; 694,000 veterans and survivors are receiving PACT Act-related benefits.
Liebzeit and Pierce want to help local veterans get the benefits they might be entitled to and connect folks with local resources.
“Thank goodness there is finally a way for veterans who gave a reasonable part of their life to service to get some benefits,” Liebzeit said.
Wyoming’s Veterans Commission employs several State Veteran Service Officers, who can help veterans and their families through the process. Ellen Rejda, who serves Teton and Fremont Counties will be at the event on March 12. She will also be available to meet individually with veterans on Wednesday, March 13 at the Jackson Workforce Center on Gill Street.
“Most veterans are aware of VA loans and the GI Bill,” Liebzeit said. “Beyond that, not many veterans are aware of the great healthcare benefits for those who qualify.”
