Joseph Haynes Davis: “I rise to address a pressing issue that has affected countless families in our Nation, an issue that hits close to home.…”

“I rise to address a pressing issue that has affected countless families in our Nation, an issue that hits close to home. It is the heartbreaking reality faced by those who lived at Camp Lejeune, where, for decades, servicemembers and their families suffered exposure to toxic chemicals in their drinking water. From the 1950s to the mid-1980s, the water at Camp Lejeune was contaminated with harmful substances. This we know. For many of the brave men and women who served our country, this was a home, a place where they were supposed to feel safe and protected. Instead, they served our Nation while unknowingly putting their health and the health of their loved ones at risk. Families have suffered in silence for far too long, often for years, as they have battled illnesses without understanding the root cause. Many have died. It is time to raise our voices for these families, these veterans, these spouses, these children who have endured far too much for far too long. Congress must act to assist those affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune. Morally, it is the right thing to do.”