Florida Senator Marco Rubio joined bipartisan U.S. Senate colleagues to introduce the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act to rectify the original Camp Lejeune Justice Act by clarifying a victim’s right to jury trials, capping attorneys’ fees, and expanding jurisdiction to alleviate the backlog of toxic water claims.
Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, and Mike Braun joined Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Jeanne Shaheen, Tammy Duckworth, Gary Peters, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Mazie Hirono on the Camp Lejeune legislation.
“It’s unacceptable that individuals impacted by the Camp Lejeune water contamination continue to experience bureaucratic roadblocks,” said Florida Senator Rubio. “Compensation for veterans and other victims impacted, including thousands of individuals in Florida, is long overdue. Senator Tillis and I are eternally grateful for their service and are working to rectify this situation.”
In 2023, Congress successfully passed the original legislation to guarantee a compensation process for veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Despite this law successfully passing, concerns about its implementation continue to be raised. Both Democrats and Republicans agree changes need to be made.
This bipartisan legislation would:
- Permit cases to be heard in any district court in the 4th Circuit
- Explicitly provide for jury trials
- Expressly state that victims must only show general causation, including for latent or potential harm
- Cap attorney fees at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials
- Ensure there is no room for misinterpreting Congress’ intent to provide complete and swift relief to victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune
“Currently, veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are running into roadblocks that are denying them their day in court for the often-crippling and deadly medical conditions they have suffered,” said Senator Tillis. “Since coming to office, I have worked alongside those who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune that were unknowingly exposed to harmful chemicals to finally give them the health care and benefits they deserve. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring justice for victims and provide a path forward so they have timely access to courts and the judicial system like they would in any other state or territory.”
