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5-18-2012

Care for Camp Lejeune Vets

Leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs have joined forces to request that the Administration provide immediate Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare to Camp Lejeune veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water over a 30-year period. After VA Secretary Shinseki declared it was “premature” to provide healthcare to these veterans, Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller (Fla.), Ranking Member Rep. Bob Filner (Calif.), Chairman Sen. Patty Murray, and Ranking Member Sen. Richard Burr sent a letter asking President Obama to intervene on the matter.  The letter, in part, says, “There is enough scientific evidence already that warrants giving the benefit of the doubt to those who need help now.”

FRA also supports the Janey Ensminger Act (H.R. 1742), sponsored by Rep. Brad Miller (N.C.), that authorizes VA health care for former military family members, veterans, and family members stationed at Camp Lejeune for three decades beginning in 1957, when the water at the base was acknowledged to have been contaminated with carcinogens. Members are urged to visit the FRA Action Center to ask their representative to support this legislation.

FRA has raised this issue in its testimony before the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees, and in discussions with legislators and their staff. The Camp Lejeune water problems will also be the topic of a feature story in the June issue of FRA Today.