I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6204 
To provide for recovery by individuals who were stationed, lived, or worked 
at Camp Lejeune, for certain actions of omissions by the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2020 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT
(for himself, Mr. MURPHY
of North Carolina, Mr. 
CUNNINGHAM, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. HOLDING, and Mr. MCHENRY) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
A BILL 
To provide for recovery by individuals who were stationed, 
lived, or worked at Camp Lejeune, for certain actions 
of omissions by the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Camp Lejeune Justice 
Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FEDERAL CAUSE OF ACTION RELATING TO WATER 
AT CAMP LEJEUNE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual, including a vet-
eran, or the legal representative of such an individual, who 
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resided, worked, or was otherwise exposed (including in 
utero exposure) for not less than 30 days during the pe-
riod beginning August 1, 1953, and ending December 31, 
1987, to water at Camp Lejeune that was supplied by the 
United States or on its behalf may bring an action in the 
United States District Court the Eastern District of 
North Carolina to obtain appropriate relief for harm 
which— 
(1) was caused by exposure to the water; 
(2) was associated with exposure to the water; 
(3) was linked to exposure to the water; or 
(4) the exposure to the water increased the like-
lihood of such harm. 
(b) PRIOR CLAIMS NOT A BAR.—An individual de-
scribed in subsection (a) may bring an action under this 
section regardless of any prior claim or action dismissed 
or otherwise terminated for any reason related to the harm 
described in subsection (a). 
(c) BURDEN AND STANDARD OF PROOF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The burden of proof shall be 
on the party filing the action to show one or more 
relationship between the water and the harm de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection 
(a) by a preponderance of the evidence. 
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(2) USE OF STUDIES.—A study conducted on 
humans or animals, or from an epidemiological 
study, which ruled out chance and bias with reason-
able confidence and which concluded, with sufficient 
evidence, that exposure to the water described in 
subsection (a) is one possible cause of the harm, 
shall be sufficient to satisfy the burden of proof de-
scribed under paragraph (1). 
(d) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
AND VENUE.—The 
district court of the Eastern District of North Carolina 
shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action under this 
section, and shall be the exclusive venue for such an ac-
tion, including any multi-district claims. Nothing in this 
subsection shall impair any party’s right to a trial by jury. 
(e) EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual who brings an 
action under this section for an injury, including a 
latent disease, may not thereafter bring a tort action 
pursuant to any other law against the United States 
for such harm. 
(2) NO EFFECT ON DISABILITY BENEFITS.— 
Any award under this section shall have not impede 
or limit the individual’s continued or future entitle-
ment to disability awards, payments, or benefits 
under any Veteran’s Administration program. 
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(f) IMMUNITY WAIVER.—The United States may not 
assert any claim to immunity in an action under this sec-
tion which would otherwise be available, including any oth-
erwise applicable statute of limitation, statute of repose, 
discretionary function defense, or similar limitation or de-
fense. 
(g) NO PUNITIVE DAMAGES.—Punitive damages may 
not be awarded in any action under this Act. 
(h) 
DISPOSITION
BY
FEDERAL
AGENCY
RE-
QUIRED.—An individual may not bring an action under 
this section prior to complying with section 2675 of title 
28, United States Code. 
(i) PERIOD FOR FILING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The statute of limitations 
for an action under this section is the later of— 
(A) 2 years from the date on which the 
harm occurred or was discovered, whichever is 
later; or 
(B) 180 days from the date on which the 
claim is denied under section 2675 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
(2) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of harm which 
was discovered prior to the date of the enactment of 
this section, the statute of limitations is the later 
of— 
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(A) 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this section; or 
(B) 180 days from the date on which the 
claim is denied under section 2675 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
(j) ATTORNEY FEES.—Attorney fees for services pro-
vided to an individual seeking a remedy under this section 
shall be in accordance with section 2678 of title 28, United 
States Code. 
(k) JUDGMENT FUND.—Awards made pursuant to 
any action under this section shall be made out of the fund 
established under section 1304 of title 31, United States 
Code. 
(l) EXCEPTION FOR COMBATANT ACTIVITIES.—This 
section does not apply to any claim or action arising out 
of the combatant activities of the Armed Forces. 
(m) AMORITIZATION.—An award of money damages 
under this section may include an order that the award 
is to be amortized over a period of up to 20 years. The 
Government may agree to amortize a payment made pur-
suant to a settlement agreement of up to 20 years. 
Æ 
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