Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025
A bill to amend the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 to make technical corrections.
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025. It makes technical corrections to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. The bill changes how claims are handled, including rules for burdens of proof and court jurisdictions. It also sets limits on attorney fees for these cases. Finally, the bill details how certain health and disability benefits might offset awards.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill expands the definition of harm to include latent or potential harm, facilitating easier proof for veterans seeking relief.
- Scored +6
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill expands the definition of harm to include latent or potential harm for those seeking relief related to Camp Lejeune.
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill improves legal processes by allowing case transfers to the fourth judicial circuit and requiring expedited disposition of actions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Under Section 2(1), the bill allows individuals to seek appropriate relief for latent or potential harm, and removes the strict requirement to file only in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for all parts of the process. This could make seeking justice more accessible.
-
Under Section 2(3), the bill adds a provision stating that any action against the United States shall be tried by the court with a jury at the request of either party. It also requires the court to expedite the disposition of the action as much as possible, which helps victims get quicker answers.
-
Under Section 2(5), the bill caps attorney fees at not more than 20 percent for settlements before a civil action starts, and not more than 25 percent for judgments or settlements after a civil action starts. This protects victims from losing too much of their recovery to legal costs.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Under Section 2(4), awards made pursuant to a settlement or judgment entered after a civil action has commenced will be offset by the amount of any disability award, payment, or benefit provided under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Medicare, or Medicaid. This means people could see their court awards reduced by the government benefits they receive.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill expands the definition of harm to include latent or potential harm, facilitating easier proof for veterans seeking relief. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill may benefit low-income households through expanded harm definitions and expedited legal proceedings.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill improves legal processes by allowing case transfers to the fourth judicial circuit and requiring expedited disposition of actions. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill provides clearer standards for proving harm and more specific rules for attorney fees.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands the definition of harm to include latent or potential harm for those seeking relief related to Camp Lejeune.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill expands the definition of harm to include latent or potential harm, potentially increasing access to compensation for health issues. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill references Medicaid benefits in the context of offsetting awards for water exposure claims.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill expands the criteria for receiving relief, which may provide financial support to affected individuals.
- 9/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2025
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 3/6/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana