Protect Camp Lejeune Veterans and Their Families!

16,424 signatures toward our 50,000 goal

32.848% Complete

Sponsor: The Veterans Site

Tell Congress to pass the Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 and give poisoned Camp Lejeune veterans the health benefits they deserve!

Protect Camp Lejeune Veterans and Their Families!

Over 1 million military personnel and their family members were stationed at the US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 and 1987. In 1982, the Marine Corps discovered a number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the drinking water, originating from two of the eight water treatment plants on base1.

During this time, the people living on the base, military service members, and civilians, ingested and bathed in drinking water contaminated with upwards of 70 chemicals that caused health risks. The most prevalent and health-hazardous contaminants found were2:

  • Perchloroethylene (PCE), dry cleaning solvent
  • Trichloroethylene (TCE), degreaser
  • Benzene, an indicator of petroleum-based contaminants such as jet fuel
  • Trans-1, 2-DEC, a breakdown of PCE and TCE into a different contaminate
  • Vinyl Chloride (VC), used in the formation of PVC, aerosol sprays, as a refrigerant, and to make automotive parts, wall coverings, and housewares

Lejeune veterans and their family members exposed to these chemicals have later developed serious diseases, but the VA currently only recognizes eight conditions, mostly cancers, as eligible for compensation3.

This has left tens of thousands of Camp Lejeune veterans fighting for assistance, for their own health and that of their families.

Marine Veteran Sam Maynard lost his job and has been confined to a wheelchair because of serious illness4.

Marine veteran Algie Nelson lives with vitiligo and renal toxicity5.

Retired Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger lost his daughter to leukemia6.

Each of these vets see a direct line from their time at Camp Lejeune and death and disease, and each of them have been met with disappointment and denial while seeking health benefits and restitution from the VA.

Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Tester (D-MT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced S. 1563, The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019, to ensure individuals with diseases scientifically linked to toxic chemical exposure at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina receive proper medical care from the Veterans Administration (VA)7.

The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 would help the many veterans and their family members suffering from illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune by providing the quality medical care and benefits they’re owed. Sign the petition below and tell Senators Jerry Moran, Jon Tester and other members of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to pass this bill now!

<ol><li>Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (26 September 2019), "<a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/CL-overview.html">Camp Lejeune Overview and History</a>."</li><li>Cassandra Crosby, Hill &amp; Pontoon Disability Attorneys (6 May 2020), "<a href="https://www.hillandponton.com/camp-lejeune-water-contamination-what-you-need-to-know/">Camp Lejeune Water Contamination: VA Benefits</a>."</li><li>U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (18 September 2020), "<a href="https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/camp-lejeune/">Camp Lejeune: Past Water Contamination</a>."</li><li>Matthew Russell, The Veterans Site (9 December 2020), "<a href="https://blog.theveteranssite.greatergood.com/camp-lejeune-poison">The Toxic Truth About Camp Lejeune: At Least 1 Million Poisoned Since 1953</a>."</li><li>Laina Yost, The Chronicle-Telegram (11 November 2020), "<a href="https://chroniclet.com/news/241411/for-one-veteran-the-fight-continues-long-after-service/">For one veteran, the fight continues long after service</a>."</li><li>Brad Schrade, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (27 February 2018), "<a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/poisoned-lejeune-vets-restore-our-constitutional-rights/1gCKILmoKQqwqZ2mnmWN5L/">Poisoned Lejeune vets: Restore our constitutional rights</a>."</li><li>Sen. Richard Burr (21 May 2019), "<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1563/text">S.1563 - Janey Ensminger Act of 2019</a>."</li></ol>

The Petition

<p>Senators Jerry Moran, Jon Tester and other members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,</p><p>More than 1 million of the military personnel and family members who were stationed at the US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune until 1987 are currently living with serious diseases caused by contaminated tap water at the base.</p><p>Marine Veteran Sam Maynard lost his job and has been confined to a wheelchair because of serious illness. Marine veteran Algie Nelson lives with vitiligo and renal toxicity. Retired Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger lost his daughter to leukemia.</p><p>Each of these vets see a direct line from their time at Camp Lejeune and death and disease, and each of them have been met with disappointment and denial while seeking health benefits and restitution from the VA.</p><p>Tens of thousands of Camp Lejeune veterans are now fighting for compensation and assistance, for their own health and that of their families.</p><p>The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 would help the many veterans and their family members suffering from illnesses linked to Camp Lejeune by providing the quality medical care and benefits they’re owed, and it now sits in your committee awaiting action.</p><p>I demand you call a vote on the The Janey Ensminger Act of 2019 and stand up for the million still suffering from being poisoned at Camp Lejeune.</p><p>Sincerely</p>