On August 2nd, 2022, in a vote of 86-11, the U.S. Senate passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 as part of the PACT Act. The act has since been sent to President Biden to be signed and enacted into law.
This landmark legislation seeks to provide a solution for veterans who were wrongfully exposed to toxic chemicals during their years of service, particularly for those who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953 and Dec. 31, 1987. Health care protections are also extended to veterans’ family members and civilians who worked at Camp Lejeune during this time period.
What Was in the Water at Camp Lejeune?
For a period of more than three decades, Camp Lejeune’s drinking water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Marines and their family members regularly drank, washed their hands, cleaned clothes, and did the dishes with water contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, including:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Perchloroethylene (PCE)
- Vinyl chloride
- Benzene
The above chemicals have all been strongly linked to a number of cancers, neurological conditions, birth defects, and more.
What Does the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 Do?
Historically, Marines and other members of the military have been barred from bringing legal action against the U.S. government for illnesses related to their service. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 seeks to right the injustice that veterans have suffered by allowing them to bring legal action for exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Advocating for Veterans Affected by Contaminated Water
The men and women who dedicated their lives to serving our country deserved better than to be knowingly exposed to toxic chemicals and then left to deal with the aftermath on their own. At Frost Law Firm, PC, our attorneys are standing by to help veterans and their families take necessary action to recover compensation for the harm that they have suffered.
Although Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in North Carolina, we understand that the nature of military service means that service members who were once stationed there have since moved to other areas of the country. If you have any questions about if you may have a potential claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our firm today.
