The Honoring Our PACT Act, or PACT Act for short, is a bill that was introduced in 2021 and recently passed in August 2022. The act first made headlines a month prior, when it was presented to the senate and failed to get enough votes. Veterans’ rights advocates were outraged at this, since PACT stands for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics. The rejection of this act was a slap in the face to veterans dealing with the adverse effects of toxins they were exposed to during service.
Military members can come into contact with dangerous substances during the time they serve. Examples include agent orange, radiation, burns, and more. The goal of this bill is to improve health care resources for veterans and their families who are exposed to toxic substances during service.
The PACT Act was presented again and passed on August 2, 2022. It promises better access to health care for veterans exposed to toxic substances.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act
While many toxic exposures happen during military travel abroad, a local issue is at the forefront of the news. Camp Lejeune is a marine corps military base in North Carolina, built during WWII. From 1953-1987, the water treatment facilities on campus were contaminated with dangerous and deadly toxins. The unaware families living on base cooked with this water, showered in it, and drank it. The contaminated water can cause a variety of diseases including various cancers, miscarriages, and birth defects
Although this issue was known about for years and finally addressed in 1987, not much action has been taken since then. The Camp Lejeune Act of 2012 sought to reimburse affected military members’ medical expenses, but that was a very difficult and sometimes impossible task. Many veterans who got sick from the Camp Lejeune water report having their claims denied.
Now in 2022, a new version of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is being presented as part of the PACT Act. The new Camp Lejeune Justice Act will allow victims to file lawsuits against the federal government, according to Shapiro Legal Group. This will make it easier for victims to recover compensation for all of the medical care, lost wages, and other damages they suffered over the years.
Camp Lejeune Victims
People who were victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water may live anywhere in the country now. If you have been affected, find a local lawyer in your area who handles Camp Lejeune cases, like those at Mingo & Yankala in Wisconsin. An injury attorney will be able to guide you through the legal process of recovering compensation for your illness, or filing a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one.
To qualify for a lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, you must have lived on base for at least 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987. You must also have been diagnosed with one of the specific diseases associated with the contaminated water, such as leukemia or Parkinson’s disease.
