Jon Stewart advocates for VA assistance for veterans affected by uranium exposure since 9/11

Comedian Jon Stewart is urging the Biden administration to address a loophole in a veterans aid bill that excluded some of the initial U.S. troops who responded to the Sept. 11 attacks and fell ill after being stationed at a base contaminated with high levels of uranium.

The special operations forces were deployed to Karshi-Khanabad, also known as “K2,” in Uzbekistan shortly after the 2001 attacks. K2, a former Soviet air base, was used by U.S. forces to target Taliban locations in Afghanistan in the early stages of the war. The base was previously a chemical weapons processing site and contained Soviet-era debris, including demolished bunkers, missile components, and highly radioactive uranium powder.

Despite the presence of uranium powder on the ground, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet provided coverage for radiation exposure at K2. Thousands of K2 veterans have reported complex medical conditions over the years, some of which are linked to radiation exposure.

While a veterans aid bill called the PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2022, addressed many health issues faced by K2 veterans, it did not include coverage for radiation exposure. K2 veterans have been advocating for assistance from the VA, but the agency is still evaluating the issue and awaiting additional information from the Pentagon before making a decision on coverage for radiation exposure.

Data shows that radiation levels at K2 were significantly higher than expected, posing health risks to service members stationed there. Despite the detection of uranium, the military continued to use the base for four years, exposing over 15,000 troops to potential harm.

Former Army Staff Sgt. Mark Jackson, a K2 veteran, has experienced severe health issues, but none of his new medical conditions have been covered by the VA. Jackson and other K2 veterans are pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite their actions in providing assistance.

Jon Stewart, a vocal advocate for veterans and first responders, believes that addressing the radiation exposure at K2 is crucial to fulfilling the intent of the PACT Act. He emphasizes the urgency of providing support to K2 veterans who are battling illnesses potentially linked to their service at the contaminated base.