President Obama Signs Bill for Camp Lejeune Water Victims Into Law PDF Print E-mail

For Immediate Release – August 6, 2012 ________________________________________________________

Contact: LuAnn Canipe (202) 225-3032 or 6089 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it _______________________________________________________

President Obama Signs Bill for Camp Lejeune Water Victims Into Law

Washington, D.C. – President Obama today signed the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act into law, a bill to provide health benefits for Marines and their families exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for decades.

"I think all Americans feel we have a moral, sacred duty toward our men and women in uniform," President Obama said in an Oval Office ceremony. "They protect our freedom, and it's our obligation to do right by them. This bill takes another important step in fulfilling that commitment."

The bill passed Congress last week with bipartisan support. Health officials believe as many as 1 million people may have been exposed to tainted groundwater at Camp Lejeune from 1957 to 1987.

The Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act seeks to provide hospital care and medical coverage for certain illnesses linked to toxic chemicals in the water for Camp Lejeune Marines and their families

"Those who have championed this legislation served our democracy while they wore our nation's uniform, and they served our democracy by their determination to obtain justice for the people harmed by the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune," Rep. Miller said. "I am honored to have been a part of creating this legislation, and proud to see it signed into law."

Title I and a similar House bill honor nine-year-old Janey Ensminger, who died from childhood leukemia, most likely because she was exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina when her mother was pregnant with her.

Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine and Janey's father, along with Rep. Miller were present at today's bill signing by the President in the Oval Office.

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