TOM LUTEY Acknowledging the federal governmentâs failure to treat military veterans exposed to toxic substances like Agent Orange and burn pit smoke, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester rolled out sweeping legislation Tuesday to assure health care and disability compensation. Tester, the Senate Veteransâ Affairs Committee chairman, said the body will begin work this week on the Compensation and Overdue Support for Troops, or COST Act. The bill grants immediate access to health care and disability services for all veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. The bill would expand access to some 3.5 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, while extending services to those still not recovered from toxic exposure in the Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars.