Last month marked the second anniversary of the PACT Act being signed into law. Included within this historic bill is the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, which provides fair and timely relief in a court of law for veterans, civil servants, and family members exposed to deadly contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. 

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act promised relief for these veterans. But tragically, since August 2022, of the more than 500,000 Camp Lejeune claims filed, less than 200 have been settled — and not a single one has gone to trial.

Now, unless there is urgent action by Congress, the justice due to Camp Lejeune’s survivors is in further peril. It is incumbent upon members of Congress from both parties to ensure our government cares for our nation’s veterans.

Recent filings by the Department of Justice contradict congressional intent to deliver swift and just compensation when we passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act. As a result of a DOJ motion, the court tasked with adjudicating the litigation did not grant the right to a trial by jury, citing ambiguous wording in the statute. This decision erases veterans’ right to have their stories heard by a jury of their peers — something that Congress always considered a central pillar of the legislation. 

The bipartisan bill we introduced, HR 8545, The Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act of 2024, addresses this injustice by making it absolutely clear that veterans and their families have the right to a jury trial. It removes any ambiguity that has resulted in the delay of rightful compensation due to the victims.

Besides this problem, we are also concerned that a backlog of cases in the Eastern District of North Carolina is grinding the process to a halt, even as veterans and their family members suffer and die during this delay. Congress can improve the process by allowing other courts to hear Camp Lejeune Justice Act cases. This is exactly what the Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act of 2024 will do, redistributing trials to the Eastern District of North Carolina and eight other districts so that the cases of veterans and their families can be considered more quickly.

Finally, our legislation sets attorneys’ fees in a way that will ensure access to qualified counsel as well as adequate recovery by victims.  The attorney fee caps would be 20 percent for administrative settlements and 25 percent for court settlements.  We believe these caps are fair and reasonable.

We understand the medical severity of the health issues that Camp Lejeune veterans and their families have and are facing. These cases are personal to us. Congressman Murphy is a urologic surgeon in the Onslow County area — where Camp Lejeune is located — and Congresswoman Ross is the daughter of a former U.S. Air Force physician. The medical and psychological needs are real. We continue to hear from our constituents in North Carolina about the urgent need to find a solution.  

Our brave veterans and their families sacrifice so much to serve the cause of freedom. They put their lives on the line to defend this great experiment in democracy. Their families often put their needs secondary to support their loved ones in uniform. It is unacceptable that these patriotic Americans face barriers in accessing the justice they deserve. The 2022 law marked a positive step towards fulfilling the promises we make to the veterans who fight for us, but unless we bring the deal to fruition, all is for naught. The Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act of 2024 will ensure that veterans and their families who are suffering the profound health effects of contaminated water are quickly and fairly compensated. 

Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., and Rep. Deborah K. Ross, D-N.C., introduced the Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act of 2024 in the 118th Congress. Murphy is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and represents Camp Lejeune. Ross is the vice ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.