United States Senate
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
May 17, 2023
The Honorable Carlos Del Toro
Secretary of the Navy
1200 Navy Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20350-1200
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Dear Secretary Del Toro and Attorney General Garland:
We write concerning reported delays in settling claims and lawsuits filed by veterans, military personnel, and their families related to injuries associated with water contamination at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. It is imperative that the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Department of Justice (DOJ) act expeditiously to ensure these individuals receive the justice they deserve without undue delay.
As you know, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act as a part of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which President Biden signed into law
on August 10, 2022.[1] According to recent reports, over 45,000 claims have been filed since enactment, yet the Navy has taken no action to resolve a single claim.[2] Additionally, reports indicate over 900 lawsuits have been filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which is allowed only after the Navy has failed to provide a final disposition of the claim within 180 days.[3] Reports also suggest that many of those filing claims are elderly and/or have adverse health conditions and a growing number have died without seeing a resolution to their case.[4] Further delay is unacceptable, and it is critically important that JAG and DOJ move quickly to adjudicate or settle these cases in a transparent, efficient manner. Anything less is an injustice.
- ↑ Pub. L. No. 117-168, § 804, 136 Stat. 1759, 1803 (2022).
- ↑ Kaustuv Basu, Veterans on Borrowed Time Fume Over Delays on Toxic Water Claims, Bloomberg Law (May 8, 2023), https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/veterans-on-borrowed-time-fume-over-delays-ontoxic-water-claims
- ↑ Diana Novak Jones, Camp Lejeune lawsuits slam North Carolina federal court, Reuters (May 4, 2023), https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/camp-lejeune-lawsuits-slam-north-carolina-federal-court-2023-05-04/
- ↑ Mike Magner, Camp Lejeune health claims are mired despite law allowing suits. Roll Call (March 23, 2023) https://rollcall.com/2023/03/23/camp-lejeune-health-claims-are-mired-despite-law-allowing-suits/
