“One of our big focuses now is on the children and grandchildren,” said Michael Bousher, the chair of the Florida Veterans Council. “We’ve noticed some of our children and grandchildren are coming down with diseases that are not really related to family history and things like that.”
Sherrod Brown hosted the roundtable and discussed the "Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022", which will secure access to the Department of Veteran Affairs' healthcare and disability benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals. Some veterans who joined the roundtable were exposed to or affected by burn pits during their military service.
For PFOA, the advisory warns of concentrations greater than 0.004 parts per trillion. Samples from Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River showed PFOA contamination over 25,000 parts per trillion.
During WWII, only 5 percent of all military members were Black. Camp Lejeune was segregated from its founding. Black marines and sailors were stationed and received basic training at Montford Point, a segregated military base that is now part of Camp Lejeune. Living conditions there were unhygienic as the military facility was in a swampy area full of bugs. Black service members were only allowed to enter Camp Lejeune with a white marine, and once there, they regularly experienced racism.
Veterans have long dealt with a benefit offset when pursing medical malpractice claims against the Department of Veterans Affairs. You cannot collect twice for the same injury under Federal Tort Claims Act and 38 USC § 1151 for benefits. Camp Lejeune veterans and many civilians need to be aware of possible offset issues that may arise if their lawsuit is successful under the new law.