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Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert said that she voted against a bill to increase healthcare benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits because she did not want to spend "a billion dollars forever" on unclear legislation.
The topic emerged when she sparred with her Democratic opponent, Trisha Calvarese, in their first and possibly only debate on Tuesday. They are fighting for a seat in Colorado's 4th congressional district.
Calvarese probed Boebert about her controversial vote against the PACT Act, which provides healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
In August 2022, both houses of Congress passed the bill with overwhelming support, and President Joe Biden signed it into law.
The bill expanded health coverage for an estimated 3.5 million former soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where burn pits were used to dispose of trash, sewage, and medical waste. Exposure to these toxins has been linked to respiratory issues and cancer.
Calvarese mentioned Boebert's "nay" vote on the bill, saying, "I think if you're going to be America first, you can't put veterans last."
"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 defended her vote by saying she refused to vote "for something that we had 22 hours to read, that's over 2,000 pages long."
The Denver Post reported that Boebert added she wasn't willing to spend "a billion dollars forever because we couldn't get a couple of pieces of language right in the legislation."
During their debate, Calvarese and Boebert also sparred on topics like national debt and minimum wage, per The Denver Post.
Representatives for Boebert didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside business hours.
