News Senate passes PACT Act, latest effort in yearslong fight to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits August 2, 2022 Donovan Slack, USA TODAY Comments Off on Senate passes PACT Act, latest effort in yearslong fight to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits The U.S. military burned tons of waste in Iraq and Afghanistan in pits that gave off toxic smoke that veterans blame for cancers and other illnesses.