Camp Lejeune Justice Act Passes, Enabling Reparations for Military, Families and Civilian Who Lived [View all]
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the United States Senate voted to pass the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, a federal mandate with bipartisan support to provide former residents of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, military, civilians and their families the right to seek reparations from the U.S. government. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Biden, under the Honoring Our PACT Act, as soon as next week.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, bill number H.R. 2192, allows those impacted from living and working at Camp Lejeune to exercise their constitutional right to legal action against the U.S. government for toxic water exposure on base.
From 1953 to 1987, water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including known carcinogens at up to 280 times the standard safety level. Four core chemicals and 70 secondary chemicals were identified in the water including: trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and benzene. Exposure to these toxins through drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing water caused myriad health complications, including a variety of cancer diagnoses, Parkinsons disease, stillbirths, infertility, miscarriages and more.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act allows anyone who lived or worked at the base between 1952 and 1987 for at least 30 days and who was exposed to its contaminated water to file a claim against the U.S. government. The bill prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specific immunity from litigation in response to any potential lawsuit.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220606005967/en/Camp-Lejeune-Justice-Act-Passes-Enabling-Reparations-for-Military-Families-and-Civilian-Who-Lived-and-Worked-on-Base
https://justiceforlejeune.org/how-does-it-work