Senate Passes Bill To Help People Sickened By Camp Lejeune Toxic Water

United States Senate Votes To Pass Bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Act Aimed At Helping Veterans Exposed To Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune

WASHINGTON D.C., VIRGINIA (August 2, 2022) – The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday night to pass the bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 which aims to help veterans who became ill after being exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune. 

The bill will head to President Biden’s desk in the coming week where it is expected to be signed. Passage of the bill was uncertain after several objections were made by Senate republicans. However, the bill ultimately passed with a vote of 86-11. 

The bill helps military veterans, their families, contractors and all people who lived at Camp Lejeune and were exposed to water on base from 1953 to 1987. The water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated due to unsafe waste disposal practices.

Researchers started testing the water and found the following chemicals: Benzene, Tetrachloroethylene/Perchloroethylene (PCE), Trichloroethylene (TCE), Vinyl Chloride (VC) and Elemental Mercury. The level of toxic chemicals in the water was anywhere between 240 – 3,400 times higher than what was allowed by safety standards. 

These contaminants in the water are known to lead to numerous ailments including:

• Adult leukemia —-  Lung cancer
• Aplastic anemia —- Lymphomas
• Birth defects — Multiple myeloma
• Spina bifida — Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Bladder cancer — Pancreatic cancer
• Breast cancer — Parkinson’s disease
• Cardiac defects — Prostate cancer
• Cervical cancer —  Liver cancer
• Esophageal cancer — Rectal cancer
• Kidney cancer — Scleroderma

An obscure law in North Carolina where the base is located previously prevented those injured by the water to pursue civil claims. But this new bill corrects that problem and opens the door for victims to get the medical and financial support that they need.  

In order to be eligible to pursue a claim, a person must demonstrate that they were exposed to water at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987. The bill also prohibits the U.S. government from asserting immunity from litigation in response to any lawsuit. 

If you have been exposed to contaminated water while staying at Camp Lejeune, you may have legal recourse under the new bill passed by congress. You do not have to be a veteran in order to pursue a claim. The bill covers all people who stayed, lived or otherwise worked at the base and may have been exposed. Our personal injury attorneys at Samer Habbas & Associates, PC are here for you. We care deeply that veterans get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can contact us anytime at 949-727-9300.