History
Before the Camp Lejeune Families Act was passed in 2012, there were many years of people demanding justice. Let us look at what led to the law being passed before justice was served. In 1953 and until 1987, the water at Camp Lejeune became very contaminated with dangerous and toxic substances. These substances have been confirmed to cause many health issues, such as:
- Bladder cancer.
- Breast Cancer.
- Esophageal cancer.
- Female Infertility.
- Hepatic steatosis.
- Kidney cancer.
- Leukemia.
- Lung Cancer.
- And more.
These are only the “VA presumptive conditions.” The water has also done much more damage. Overall, more than one million people were hurt in some way or another by the contamination. Many families were harmed as well. In 1999, officials began letting residents know of potential risks. It was not long after that when the first case against the federal government was made.
President Obama and Camp Lejeune
The first Camp Lejeune case filed against the US government was in 2007, shortly before President Obama took office. Right after the Obama administration took office, cases began to pile up fast. So, in 2012, the “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act” was approved by Congress and signed.
It is worth mentioning that President Barack Obama signed the law after years of protests. Victims of Camp Lejeune have been fighting for and demanding their rights for years. The law was passed to honor the veterans who have dedicated their lives to serving their nation.
Theoretically, the law was a great step forward. In reality, though, things had remained stagnant for victims of Camp Lejeune. The law still addressed many issues. Let us look into them in detail.
The “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012” covers a couple of things. The main issues, however, include:
- First and foremost, it will address the country’s duty toward veterans as well as their relatives.
- The law will provide expanded care to veterans who were at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.
- The law also restricts protests that take place at military funerals. As it were, protests will not be allowed at these funerals for two hours before or after. The main reason this was done is that the veterans deserve to be treated with honor and respect, according to President Obama.
Both Republicans and Democrats have massively supported this bill, as it is in the best interest of the nation as a whole. President Obama also addressed other actions that needed to be taken in order to help veterans as much as possible. This includes the Veterans Jobs Corps proposal.
See Camp Lejeune Families Act here.
Benefits
When President Obama signed the Camp Lejeune Families Act in 2012, the US government promised to provide $2 billion in benefits and Medicare for victims.
Qualified Veterans
Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days on active duty between 1953 and 1987 are eligible for free health care under the Families Act.
The qualifying health conditions under this Act are the following:
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Lung Cancer
- Miscarriage
- Bladder Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Female Infertility
- Hepatic Steatosis
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Neurobehavioral Effects
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) went into effect initially in 2021, nearly a decade after the Camp Lejeune Families Act was passed in 2012. This law, unlike the previous one, has done a lot for victims. It was surprisingly popular with both Democrats and Republicans. In August 2022, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act was signed and passed.
This Act basically gives anyone who was harmed by Camp Lejeune’s water contamination the right to sue the US government. President Obama’s policy on Camp Lejeune was a step in the right direction. However, it was not enough. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) was long overdue, as it provides the victims of Camp Lejeune water contamination with the justice they deserve.
For many years, people have been protesting and fighting for their rights to compensation. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 is the culmination of all of those efforts. Lastly, even though it may seem that previous efforts like the Camp Lejeune Families Act were fruitless, they actually paved the way.