Republicans turned their back on veterans like me. [Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate] {NAME} â Iâm a Marine who was exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq. On Thursday, 41 Republicans in Washington blocked a bill that would have expanded healthcare for millions of veterans like me who were exposed to these burn pits during their service. So today, I published this op-ed in Fox News because I want Josh Hawley, Roy Blunt, and every other Senate Republican who made it clear that they donât give a damn about our veterans to see it. In a moment, Iâm going to ask you to [chip in $10 to my grassroots campaign before our August 2 primary.]( But first, let me tell you a little more about what it was like living next to these burn pits. [Headline from the op-ed Lucas published in Fox News today that reads: I was exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq. Republicans turned their backs on veterans like me.]( [Add a donation now]( It was 2009. I was stationed at the Al Taqaddum Airbase where I was a Marine Captain leading a police training team. Twelve Marines and a Navy Corpsman. Running missions through Habbaniyah, Fallujah, and Ramadi. It was my first of three tours of duty during the War on Terror. And from our camp, the baseâs burn pit loomed over us. Hereâs what it looked like: [View of smoke streaming up from a burn pit in Iraq.]( Smoke columns filled the sky and blew through our living space. We ran through it, joking about how we should be doing gas mask runs. For three months that pit bathed us in toxic fumes. We accepted it and focused on our duty. For me, that was planning our routes and pouring over intel to avoid the immediate danger: IEDs on all the convoys and missions we were running outside the wire. I was so proud to bring every member of that team home safely. Or so I thought â because, as it turns out, we couldnât protect ourselves from our own country. When I got back from Iraq, I developed a persistent tickle in my throat. Constant irritation. I never had allergies before and annoyed myself with the constant throat clearing. Eventually, I was so embarrassed by it that I went to the base clinic. They said it was postnasal drip and that they could give me allergy medicine. There was no formal diagnosis. But over 10 years later, itâs still there. Bothersome. Uncomfortable, but certainly manageable. And thatâs about the best story youâll hear about a vet whoâs been exposed to burn pits. Many struggle with chronic respiratory issues. Migraines. Cancer. So imagine how we all felt on Thursday, watching all these Republicans, most of whom have never even worn the uniform, throw us a giant middle finger? I know thatâs harsh language, but it has to be. Because what they did was about as anti-American as it gets. Patriots donât attack veterans who suffered injuries or illness from being around those toxic pits. Many of these same Republicans spent years voting to keep us in these forever wars, lying to the American people about what was really going on over there, and getting rich off their defense contractor stocks that skyrocket when weâre at war. These people profited off of sending us over there only to screw us when we came back messed up. Itâs criminal. If Republicans donât have a patriotic bone in their spine, then we need to step the hell up as Democrats and do something about it. We need to get rid of the filibuster and actually pass the stuff thatâs going to help us everyday Americans. Veterans shouldnât have to wait any longer for Washington to do its job. I served my country for 13 years in the United States Marine Corps. Iâd give anything for this country â and thatâs exactly why Iâm running for Missouriâs open U.S. Senate seat. We deserve leaders who are willing to make even an ounce of the sacrifice our veterans have. [If youâre with me, please add a donation of $10 or more to my grassroots campaign today. I donât take a penny from corporate PACs, defense contractors, or federal lobbyists so you know Iâll always fight for you when Iâm in the U.S. Senate.]( If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly: [Contribute $10](
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[Give another amount]( Iâm proud to have you on this team, {NAME}. Letâs flip this seat and finally invest in the people who served our country, Lucas Kunce [Donate]( [Like on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( [Follow on Instagram]( Paid for by Lucas Kunce for Missouri This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](#). Email is the most important way we keep in touch with people like you. But, if you'd like to receive fewer emails, [you can do so here](. If you need to remove yourself from our email list, [click here to unsubscribe](. Mail us: PO BOX 1240 Independence, MO 64050. Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.