Patriot Bill of Rights

Bill: 118-s-3237
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2023-11-07
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

North Carolina

Veterans' medical care

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2024-06-07
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-06-04
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p><strong>Patriot Bill of Rights</strong></p><p>This bill modifies procedural requirements for veterans who file judicial claims for compensation related to their exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987.</p><p>Specifically, the bill requires veterans (or legal representatives of veterans) who file a judicial claim for compensation to sign a written acknowledgment indicating that they understand they may seek guidance and advice on any disability awards, payments, or benefits free of charge from their congressional representatives, veteran service organizations, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.</p>

tv_txt: 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3237 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 to ensure claimants are adequately informed regarding filing a Federal cause of action.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Patriot Bill of Rights . 2. Information regarding veterans’ benefits to veterans bringing Federal cause of action relating to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (a) In general The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 ( 28 U.S.C. 2671 note prec.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Acknowledgments (1) Guidance and advice services A veteran, or the legal representative of a veteran, bringing a cause of action under subsection (b) shall sign a written acknowledgment, provided by the attorney, indicating that the veteran or legal representative bringing the action understands that the veteran or legal representative may seek guidance and advice on any disability awards, payments, or benefits, in addition to and separate from rights provided under this Act, to which the veteran may be entitled under any program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, free of charge from— (A) organizations recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; (B) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (C) the congressional representatives of the individual or legal representative. (2) Application to pending matters For any cause of action brought under subsection (b) that is pending on the date of enactment of this subsection, not later than 90 days after such date of enactment, the veteran bringing the action, the legal representative of the veteran, or the attorney for the veteran or legal representative, as applicable, shall file the acknowledgments described in paragraph (1). . (b) Severability If any provision of the amendment made by subsection (a), or the application of such a provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of the amendment made by subsection (a), the other provisions of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 ( 28 U.S.C. 2671 note prec.), and the application of the provision of the amendment made by subsection (a) held to be unconstitutional to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

Passed the Senate June 4, 2024. Secretary

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3237 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 7, 2023 Mr. Tillis introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 to ensure claimants are adequately informed regarding filing a Federal cause of action.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Patriot Bill of Rights . 2. Information regarding Federal cause of actions relating to water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (a) In general The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 ( 28 U.S.C. 2671 note prec.) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k) Acknowledgments (1) Guidance and advice services An individual, or the legal representative of an individual, bringing a cause of action under subsection (b) shall sign a written acknowledgment, provided by the attorney, indicating that the individual or legal representative bringing the action understands that the individual or legal representative may seek guidance and advice free of charge from— (A) organizations recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code; (B) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; (C) the congressional representatives of the individual or legal representative; and (D) the Tort Claims Unit of the Department of the Navy. (2) Other required acknowledgments An attorney representing an individual or the legal representative of an individual in a cause of action brought under subsection (b) shall file with the Secretary of the Navy a written acknowledgment signed by the individual or legal representative indicating that the individual or legal representative understands— (A) legal representation by an attorney is not required to file an action; and (B) the attorney’s fee arrangement regarding representation in the action, which shall include an acknowledgment of whether the fee arrangement is one under which the total amount of the fee payable to the attorney is— (i) to be paid to the attorney by the claimant, subsequent to the allocation of the award; or (ii) contingent on whether the matter is resolved in a manner favorable to the claimant. (3) Application to pending matters For any cause of action brought under subsection (b) that is pending on the date of enactment of this subsection, not later than 90 days after such date of enactment, the individual bringing the action, the legal representative of the individual, or the attorney for the individual or legal representative, as applicable, shall file the acknowledgments described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (4) Advertising A law firm that receives veteran data from an advertising agency shall reduce the attorney’s legal fee in an amount equal to the cost incurred by the law firm to receive the data. . (b) Severability If any provision of the amendment made by subsection (a), or the application of such a provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of the amendment made by subsection (a), the other provisions of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 ( 28 U.S.C. 2671 note prec.), and the application of the provision of the amendment made by subsection (a) held to be unconstitutional to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.