Hagan Comments on Community Assistance Panel in Wilmington to Discuss Lejeune Water Contamination

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan today commented on the public forum and Community Assistance Panel hosted by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to address ongoing activities at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

"Since coming to the Senate, I have been working to help provide answers to our former Lejeune families," said Hagan. "Today's Community Assistance Panel and Public Forum meeting in Wilmington to address Camp Lejeune water contamination issues is an important step in improving outreach to the community impacted most directly. I continue to monitor the concerns being raised and the progress being made by the Community Assistance Panel meetings."

A representative from Senator Hagan's office will be on hand during the public forum be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at UNC Wilmington's Burney Center, 601 S. College Rd.

On June 8, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee passed the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act (S. 277) that Hagan co-sponsored with Senator Richard Burr. The bill would open access to VA health care for veterans and their family members who developed health problems after exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

"It is critical that our veterans and their family members who developed health problems after exposure to contaminated water while serving at Camp Lejeune have access to the health care they need" said Hagan. "I am working with Senator Burr and my colleagues in Congress to help provide answers to these families who were exposed to contaminated water."

In April, Hagan, Burr, and Congressman Brad Miller, sponsor of the bill in the House, sent a letter expressing concern that the Marine Corps continues to rely on the flawed 2009 National Research Council report that downplays the link between the contaminated water and adverse health effects. Hagan, Burr and Miller, who have been working for years across the aisle and in both chambers on this issue, asked the Department of the Navy to provide the public with accurate information. The letter can be found here.

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