ON THE JOB FOR MICHIGAN: Traverse City Veterans Service Officer Highlights Peters’ Efforts to Pass the PACT Act

WASHINGTON, DC - In a new "On the Job" video from U.S. Senator Gary Peters' (MI) office, Michael Roof, Director of Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs, highlights Peters' efforts to help pass the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law. The PACT Act delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans, and their survivors, for the first time in our nation's history. As of March 2026, more than 2.4 million veterans, including nearly 43,000 veterans across Michigan, have received VA health care benefits as a result of this law. The video is part of the On the Job for Michigan series, which highlights Peters' leadership and advocacy on behalf of Michigan constituents and communities.

"When I started doing this in 2012, you heard a lot of Vietnam Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and herbicides. Then comes the current war, they're suffering with cancers and other toxic related injuries for years," said Michael Roof, Grand Traverse County Veterans Affairs Director. "Those Veterans that were getting out, it was hard to connect them with benefits. The PACT Act... that opened up a whole new world for Veterans."

"Now, we have the systemic momentum of the Veterans community," said Kevin Hensley of the Michigan Burn Pits 360 Chapter. "What it means for Veterans, is they finally get the opportunity to file those claims."

Watch the "On The Job" video here.

"We have a responsibility to ensure all of our veterans can access the health care, benefits, and support they have earned," said Peters. "The PACT Act did exactly that. That historic law is delivering long overdue benefits and health care to Michigan veterans who were exposed to toxic substances like Agent Orange and toxic burn pits during their service. I encourage all veterans who are suffering from toxic-exposure to reach out to their local veteran agencies to get a claim filed today."

During his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Peters earned a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After the September 11^th terrorist attacks on our country, Peters volunteered again for drilling status and served overseas as part of his Reserve duty. He later earned a diploma from the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College.

In the Senate, Peters has remained committed to supporting our nation's servicemembers and veterans. In 2021, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation's veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law as part of the national defense bill. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or other related conditions connected to their military service.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet