Camp Lejeune's water contamination has left hundreds of thousands of people suffering from illnesses and grief, with many families still waiting for justice decades after the scandal broke. A 2022 law aimed at bringing victims their day in court has stalled due to bureaucratic delays and procedural fights, leaving a long line of broken promises.
Donna Harris, who spent her childhood on Camp Lejeune, believes she's been paying the price ever since. After years of drinking and bathing in contaminated water, Harris has battled asthma, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, lost her left kidney, and faced both breast and uterine cancer. Her mother suffered four miscarriages, and her sister died from kidney disease.
The contamination, which included trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride, was leaked from fuel tanks and improper waste disposal. Estimates suggest that up to one million Marines, civilian workers, and their families were exposed over decades.
Despite the discovery of the contamination in the early 1980s, the most polluted wells weren't shut down until 1985. Veterans and families spent years reporting high rates of rare cancers, birth defects, and chronic diseases only to face a long fight for recognition and care.
Families are now calling on Congress to pass the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, which would guarantee victims the right to trial and ensure their claims are heard. The bill aims to cap attorney fees at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials and allow any federal court in North Carolina and South Carolina to hear such cases.
Michelle James, whose husband died after years of illness she believes was caused by Camp Lejeune's water, says the contamination robbed her family twice – first of his health, then of justice. Her support group has become a lifeline for families struggling under the weight of illness, lost income, and grief.
"We lean on each other," James said. "Some women have lost their homes. Others are too sick to work. It's heartbreaking." She wants Americans to pay attention and show support for those affected by Camp Lejeune's water contamination.
Donna Harris, who spent her childhood on Camp Lejeune, believes she's been paying the price ever since. After years of drinking and bathing in contaminated water, Harris has battled asthma, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, lost her left kidney, and faced both breast and uterine cancer. Her mother suffered four miscarriages, and her sister died from kidney disease.
The contamination, which included trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride, was leaked from fuel tanks and improper waste disposal. Estimates suggest that up to one million Marines, civilian workers, and their families were exposed over decades.
Despite the discovery of the contamination in the early 1980s, the most polluted wells weren't shut down until 1985. Veterans and families spent years reporting high rates of rare cancers, birth defects, and chronic diseases only to face a long fight for recognition and care.
Families are now calling on Congress to pass the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act, which would guarantee victims the right to trial and ensure their claims are heard. The bill aims to cap attorney fees at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials and allow any federal court in North Carolina and South Carolina to hear such cases.
Michelle James, whose husband died after years of illness she believes was caused by Camp Lejeune's water, says the contamination robbed her family twice – first of his health, then of justice. Her support group has become a lifeline for families struggling under the weight of illness, lost income, and grief.
"We lean on each other," James said. "Some women have lost their homes. Others are too sick to work. It's heartbreaking." She wants Americans to pay attention and show support for those affected by Camp Lejeune's water contamination.
. The fact that a law meant to bring justice to these innocent people has stalled due to procedural fights is just mind-boggling. It's like they're saying "let them suffer" - and that's just not right 
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. We need to keep pushing for change and making our voices heard until these people get the justice they deserve 
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it's not fair that families have been waiting decades for justice, especially with the 2022 law stalled due to bureaucracy 
donna harris's story is heartbreaking - she's battled multiple illnesses & lost loved ones...it's a tragedy 
hopefully congress will pass that bill soon & victims can finally get the justice they deserve 
. I'm literally shaking with anger thinking about the families who've suffered so much & are still fighting for recognition. 
how can Congress stall on something like this? The victims are still waiting for answers & compensation decades later...it's heartbreaking 
. I mean, can you imagine having a childhood like Donna Harris' - drinking contaminated water and then dealing with all this health stuff? It's just heartbreaking 
. And now they're trying to get justice, but it's getting slowed down by bureaucracy 
... it's frustrating 
. I mean, it's not like they were warned or anything about the risks of drinking that water 
. It's just a huge mess 
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. It's about time someone stepped in to protect these victims. 20% cap on attorney fees is a good starting point, at least 
. But what's really needed here is some accountability from those in power 
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, imagine if you were in their shoes, how would you want to be treated?
... our government's failure to act on time is a major lesson. accountability is crucial when it comes to protecting the well-being of its citizens. we need more transparency and swift action, not bureaucratic delays that prolong suffering.
. we all have a responsibility to lend our voice and support these brave individuals 
. And let me tell you, this is not just about Camp Lejeune – it's a symptom of a larger problem with our government's willingness to listen to its citizens.
The fact that Congress is stalling on this bill is a clear indication that they're more interested in protecting their donors than doing what's right. We need to make some noise and demand change 
. It's time for us to take back our government and start putting the needs of our citizens above all else 
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Like, what's the deal with bureaucracy? You've got people suffering from legit health issues that were caused by contaminated water 40+ years ago and still no justice in sight 
. I mean, come on Congress, get it together! Pass the bill already 
. It's like, come on guys! These people have been suffering for years and still don't know when they'll get justice or compensation 
. I'm so tired of hearing about broken promises and stalled progress 
. It's not just the victims who are affected, it's their families too - they're living with grief and uncertainty every day 
and make sure these people get the help they deserve 
it's unbelievable how long the gov has been dragging its feet on getting justice for these families 
20% cap on attorney fees is a good start, but it's not enough 
and yeah, the support from Michelle James' group must mean everything to her & others like her 
It's been decades since it was discovered and still we're not seeing justice 
her husband's death was so preventable 
think we should make laws in place so this never happens again