Cartwright attends White House bill signing ceremony for PACT Act

Aug. 10—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Matt Rep. Cartwright Wednesday said the service members who signed up to defend their country and the people who supported them at Camp Lejeune were let down by their government in a big way.

Cartwright, D-Moosic, was among a group of lawmakers on hand Wednesday at the White House Rose Garden for President Joe Biden's bill signing ceremony for the PACT Act.

"I was proud to witness the signing of the PACT Act, which includes The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, bipartisan legislation I sponsored along with Republican Congressman Greg Murphy and Democratic Congressman David Price, both of North Carolina," Cartwright said. "Having the Camp Lejeune Justice Act signed into law is an important step forward to ensure military families, civil servants and contractors can receive the benefits and health care they deserve."

Cartwright added that as the author of The Camp Lejeune Justice Act, he will continue to advocate on behalf of all military members and their families."

Over a 30-year period spanning the 1950s through the 1980s, Cartwright said thousands of Marines, their families, civilian workers and personnel used government-provided tap water that was contaminated with harmful chemicals, found at levels ranging from 240 to 3,400 times the levels permitted by safety standards.

Cartwright said these exposures likely increased the risk of cancers, such as renal cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemia and more. He said it also likely raised their risk of adverse birth outcomes, along with other negative health effects.

Although the exact number of Camp Lejeune water contamination victims will never be known, it is estimated that more than a million people were exposed, and more than 500,000 people may have devastating health effects, Cartwright said.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act provisions included in the Honoring Our PACT Act will allow those who were injured because of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and their family members to file under the Federal Tort Claims Act for fair compensation.

This type of claim would already be permitted anywhere else in the United States, but because of a unique provision in North Carolina law, this legislation is necessary for those harmed at Camp Lejeune to finally to seek justice.

Timothy Borland, national Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars, attended the ceremony.

"Passage of the PACT Act is a landmark victory for veterans of all ages, of all conflicts, and their families," Borland said. "Too many of our veterans have suffered over the years from effects of toxic exposure, with no medical care."

Also attending was Brian Moyer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Military-Veterans Advocacy.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough also spoke on the signing of the PACT Act.

"The PACT Act is a historic new law that will help VA deliver for millions of Veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions" McDonough said. "It will also bring generations of veterans into VA health care, which will improve veteran health outcomes across the board."

McDonough went on to say, "We at VA are ready to implement the PACT Act and deliver for toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors."

If you think you might be eligible for PACT Act benefits, here's what McDonough said you need to know:

—You can apply for PACT Act-related benefits now by filing a claim at VA.

"As President Biden announced at the bill signing, we are making all 23 presumptive conditions in the PACT Act eligible for benefits effective today, Aug. 10, 2022," McDonough said.

You can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411.

"Thank you to all of the Veterans, survivors and family members who fought tirelessly to make this day possible, and thank you to President Biden for keeping our nation's promise to those who served," McDonough said. "We at VA will stop at nothing to make sure that every Veteran and every survivor gets the PACT Act-related care and benefits they deserve."

Cartwright said many of his constituents are Vietnam era veterans and many of those could be eligible for benefits under the PACT Act.

"Sure, this will encompass a lot of veterans who will be eligible now for benefits," Cartwright said. "And they will be able to be treated at the VA facilities."

Cartwright said the federal government has a responsibility to care for veterans, service members, and their families.

Cartwright said although the exact number of Camp Lejeune water contamination victims will never be known, it is estimated that more than a million people were exposed, and more than 500,000 people may have devastating health effects.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.