[tceblog] Neil Fischbein: Senate passes Camp Lejeune water contamination amendment (NC, DC)

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Posted by Neil Fischbein:
Senate passes Camp Lejeune water contamination amendment (NC, DC)
http://www.tceblog.com/posts/1151034761.shtml


   This news just came across our plate (Thanks D.). Though we have
   several days of news to catch you up on, we're starting here.
   Following is Senator Jim Jefford's [1]press statement:

     Dole, Jeffords' Camp Lejeune Amendment Passes Senate in DOD Bill
     WASHINGTON, DC -- An amendment to support military families who
     were potentially exposed to highly contaminated water at Camp
     Lejeune in North Carolina was approved today as part of the 2007
     Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate 96-0. The
     amendment was authored by Senators Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and Jim
     Jeffords, I-Vt.
     The amendment will help those exposed to contaminated drinking
     water at Camp Lejeune Marine base, which closed the contaminated
     wells in 1985. The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
     Registry (ATSDR) has found that at least 100 babies exposed in
     utero to the contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune suffered
     birth defects and cancers, including spina bifida, leukemia and
     cleft palates.
     The Dole-Jeffords amendment requires a comprehensive National
     Academy of Sciences study to be completed within 18 months to
     evaluate the strength of the link between TCE and PCE exposure and
     adverse health impacts for pre-natal, childhood and adult exposures
     at Camp Lejeune. In 2004, Jeffords called for an investigation of
     the contamination, and for full notification of those affected.
     The amendment also requires the Marine Corps to notify those
     potentially affected by the contamination so they can learn what
     happened, how it may have affected them, and what steps they may
     consider taking now to minimize the potential health impacts.
     "I am hopeful that this study will provide the information these
     families need to answer questions that have lingered for far too
     long," said Jeffords, the ranking member of the Senate Environment
     and Public Works Committee. "This is the minimum that our
     government should be doing to address the grievous failure on the
     part of the Marine Corps to adequately protect its service members
     and their families."

   According to [2]this earlier article, the amendment also extends
   veterans health-care benefits to children whose mothers were exposed
   while pregnant to the TCE-contaminated water.
   Congratulations to all who helped make this happen.

References

   1. http://jeffords.senate.gov/~jeffords/press/06/06/062206camp_lejeune.html
   2. http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1879970.php