Justice for Camp Lejeune families cannot depend on an election

“If the Republicans don’t do well, maybe they won’t get their money.” Those are the words of President Trump when asked whether he is tying veterans’ toxic exposure claims to the midterm election results.

Trump stated several times last week that Camp Lejeune veterans with pending claims won’t receive the settlements to which they are entitled if Republicans don’t win the midterms. This is an outrageous breach of trust and a break from accepted norms, and seemingly just another day in this administration.

Democrats included The Camp Lejeune Justice Act in the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits in history. I authored that bill as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and President Biden signed it into law in 2022. Including this provision was important because veterans and their families have been waiting decades for relief.

Congress gave these families a legal right to compensation. How fast the Department of Justice settles those claims is an administrative choice, and the president is now suggesting that choice depends on how his party does in November. 

There are more than 500,000 claims awaiting relief after decades of injustice. Each claim represents a former servicemember, family member or civilian who was stationed at Camp Lejeune and has suffered serious medical complications from contaminated water.

These are veterans who have battled cancer, serious liver and kidney issues, and other diseases caused by toxic water on base. People have waited years to be made whole and for our country to live up to its promise of taking care of those who serve. They should not be politically blackmailed by a president who has directed the largest cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce and services in history.

I have led the charge this year to live up to the promise we make to veterans by fighting attempts in Congress to cut future benefits for servicemembers fighting in Iran and by cracking down on billions of dollars going to Trump allies instead of veteran care.

Veterans fought for a country where they could expect their government not to use their benefits as a bargaining chip. Empty promises have been the hallmark of this Congress and this administration — which has passed the lowest number of veteran bills in recent memory. This latest attempt to coerce voters will be rejected by veterans who have served and fought for justice.

If the president were at all concerned with expanding benefits, he would call on Republicans to end their hold on the Major Richard Star Act. When we return to Washington, the House will vote on this critical piece of legislation to end the wounded warrior tax so that our combat-injured veterans can live with dignity.

That is a promise I can get behind: finally delivering the benefits for which 59,000 combat-injured veterans have fought. Instead, we get hollow promises and unmistakable threats to veterans’ benefits, all of which, according to President Trump, hinge on the midterm election results.

Our requirement to care for veterans after their service is a sacred obligation that our government must fulfill. So, I am disappointed although not surprised that Republicans who claim to share this belief have remained silent in the face of this latest attempt to swipe away benefits.

Veterans deserve leaders in Congress who are not afraid to condemn threats from the president and who always stand up for survivors of Camp Lejeune, other veterans exposed to toxic substances, or any former servicemember waiting for justice. 

Veterans fought, served, and died for our country — with many still living the impacts of their service. Veterans and their benefits should not be threatened by a man who is more interested in staying in power and avoiding accountability than in delivering for those who selflessly served our nation in uniform.

Mark Takano represents California’s 39th District in the U.S. House of Representatives and is ranking member on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.