I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6482 
To establish a cause of action for those harmed by exposure to water at 
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 25, 2022 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT (for himself, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, and Mr. MUR-
PHY of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish a cause of action for those harmed by exposure 
to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and for 
other purposes. 
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 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FEDERAL CAUSE OF ACTION RELATING TO WATER 
AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual, including a veteran 
(as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code), 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:17 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6482.IH
H6482
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
or the legal representative of such an individual, who re-
sided, worked, or was otherwise exposed (including in 
utero exposure) for not less than 30 days during the pe-
riod beginning on August 1, 1953, and ending on Decem-
ber 31, 1987, to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 
that was supplied by, or on behalf of, the United States 
may bring an action in the United States District Court 
for the Eastern District of North Carolina to obtain ap-
propriate relief for harm that was caused by exposure to 
the water at Camp Lejeune. 
(b) BURDENS AND STANDARD OF PROOF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The burden of proof shall be 
on the party filing the action to show one or more 
relationships between the water at Camp Lejeune 
and the harm. 
(2) STANDARDS.—To meet the burden of proof 
described in paragraph (1), a party shall produce 
evidence showing that the relationship between expo-
sure to the water at Camp Lejeune and the harm 
is— 
(A) sufficient to conclude that a causal re-
lationship exists; or 
(B) sufficient to conclude that a causal re-
lationship is at least as likely as not. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:17 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6482.IH
H6482
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(c) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
AND VENUE.—The 
United States District Court for the Eastern District of 
North Carolina shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any 
action filed under subsection (a), and shall be the exclusive 
venue for such an action. Nothing in this subsection shall 
impair the right of any party to a trial by jury. 
(d) EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual, or legal rep-
resentative of an individual, who brings an action 
under this section for a harm described in subsection 
(a), including a latent disease, may not thereafter 
bring a tort action against the United States for 
such harm pursuant to any other law. 
(2) HEALTH AND DISABILITY BENEFITS RELAT-
ING TO WATER EXPOSURE.—Any award made to an 
individual, or legal representative of an individual, 
under this section shall be offset by the amount of 
any disability award, payment, or benefit provided to 
the individual, or legal representative— 
(A) under— 
(i) any program under the laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:17 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6482.IH
H6482
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(ii) the Medicare program under title 
XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); or 
(iii) the Medicaid program under title 
XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396 et seq.); and 
(B) in connection with health care or a dis-
ability relating to exposure to the water at 
Camp Lejeune. 
(e) IMMUNITY LIMITATION.—The United States may 
not assert any claim to immunity in an action under this 
section that would otherwise be available under section 
2680(a) of title 28, United States Code. 
(f) NO PUNITIVE DAMAGES.—Punitive damages may 
not be awarded in any action under this section. 
(g) 
DISPOSITION
BY
FEDERAL
AGENCY
RE-
QUIRED.—An individual may not bring an action under 
this section before complying with section 2675 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
(h) EXCEPTION FOR COMBATANT ACTIVITIES.—This 
section does not apply to any claim or action arising out 
of the combatant activities of the Armed Forces. 
(i) APPLICABILITY; PERIOD FOR FILING.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:17 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6482.IH
H6482
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply 
only to a claim arising before the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(2) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—A claim in an 
action under this section may not be commenced 
after the later of— 
(A) the date that is 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act; or 
(B) the date that is 180 days after the 
date on which the claim is denied under section 
2675 of title 28, United States Code. 
(3) 
INAPPLICABILITY
OF
OTHER
LIMITA-
TIONS.—Any applicable statute of repose or statute 
of limitations, other than under paragraph (2), shall 
not apply to a claim under this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:17 Jan 26, 2022
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6482.IH
H6482
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS