Burn pit protest on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON (WHEC) – Protesters gathered on Capitol Hill on Monday with continued calls for passage of the Pact Act.

The legislation would provide support to veterans affected by exposure to toxic burn pits during their service. In June it passed in the senate 84-14, and it passed in the House with wide support after minor changes were made. However, when the bill returned to the Senate, it failed to secure the votes needed to pass.

Comedian and veterans advocate Jon Stewart joined those at the Capitol Building and questioned why republican lawmakers changed their votes on the pact act.

"We still haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer in terms of what changed from June 16th when it passed 84-14. What changed that made you flip 25 votes when in fact, the bill passed 84-14 and went back to the House with a technical fix and passed the house with 90 more Republican votes. So if there’s some crazy budget gimmick and slush fund that was inserted into this why would you gain 90 Republican votes? Nothing’s changed so we still haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer." Said Jon Stewart.

"If you have to push this hard for something this obvious, what chance do the rest of us have on healthcare? On anything?"