Press Release
Congress Provides Pathway to Justice to Veterans Following AAJ’s Advocacy
Washington, DC – After decades of facing closed courthouse doors, veterans and their surviving family members who were exposed to toxic contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, will soon have a path to seek justice.
Following sustained advocacy from the American Association for Justice (AAJ), and its members, today the U.S. Senate passed legislation known as the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which included the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act provides a two year window for individuals, particularly veterans and their surviving family members, who resided, worked, or were exposed to latent disease at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days to bring an action in the Eastern District of North Carolina to obtain relief from harm for toxic exposure.
“For decades military and civilian employees as well as military families were exposed to a carcinogen in drinking water supplied by the United States,” said Linda Lipsen, AAJ’s CEO. “Cancers, chronic disease, birth defects and premature deaths of infants have been linked to this toxic water. We are grateful that the United States Congress is joining us in the fight for justice for these injured veterans and their families.”
The passage of the PACT Act in the Senate sends the bill to President Biden’s desk, where he has indicted his intention to sign this critical legislation.
