Hegseth boosts veteran benefits bill that key Republicans have opposed 

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports a veteran benefits bill that has faced opposition from key Republicans due to budgetary concerns. The bill aims to provide assistance to combat-injured veterans affected by toxic burn pits.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a rare boost last week to a bipartisan bill that key Republicans, including the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), have opposed over cost concerns.  The legislation, named after a U.S. Army combat engineer, diagnosed with cancer due to toxic burn pit exposure, would provide about 54,000 combat-injured…