Jon Stewart gives impassioned plea in support of bill helping vets exposed to toxic burn pits

Comedian and talk show host Jon Stewart, who has been a vocal advocate of health care for first responders, gave a passionate speech outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, pleading with lawmakers to pass a bill that would dramatically boost health care services and disability benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This wait is unconscionable," Stewart said in a press conference that included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Honoring Our Pact Act passed the House earlier this month but has yet to be voted on in the Senate.

Stewart attributed the delay to "nonsense" from lawmakers who say they want to support veterans "the right way."

"You know what would have been nice? If they had been responsible 20 years ago and hadn't spent trillions of dollars on overseas adventures," Stewart said. "If they had been responsible and hadn't spent billions of dollars for defense contractors to poison our own troops.