Bart Stupak: “I urge Members to support the Dingell/Stupak/ Miller amendment to H.R. 5136, the Defense Authorization Act. I wish to…”

“I urge Members to support the Dingell/Stupak/ Miller amendment to H.R. 5136, the Defense Authorization Act. I wish to thank my colleagues Congressmen Dingell and Miller for their work to bring this amendment to the floor. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I held a hearing in 2007 on the contaminated water wells at Camp Lejeune and how the Department of Defense did not appropriately respond to the discovery of volatile organic compounds within the drinking water from 1957 to 1987. During the hearing, we listened to soldiers formerly stationed at Camp Lejeune who, along with members of their families who lived on the base, have encountered significant health problems they believe is tied to their exposure to TCE, PCE, benzene and other toxins. These volatile organic compounds may be the cause of increased incidences of cancer and birth defects among women, children, employees, and soldiers stationed at Camp Lejeune.”