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119-hr-4145119th Congress

Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]

Introduced

Summary

Clarifies and reorganizes how Camp Lejeune water‑contamination claims are proved and handled in court, with new rules on venue, evidence, attorney fees, and retroactive effect. The bill would change where victims file claims, what plaintiffs must prove about exposure and harm, set caps on contingency fees, and make those changes apply back to August 10, 2022.

Show full summary
  • Families and victims: Plaintiffs would need to show a link between the type of contaminant and their injury and that they were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days. The evidentiary rule requires proof that a causal relationship either exists or is at least as likely as not.
  • Courts and cases: The bill removes the rule forcing initial filing only in the Eastern District of North Carolina. That court would still control coordinated pretrial work, but cases may be transferred for pretrial and trial to the Eastern, Middle, or Western Districts of North Carolina or the District of South Carolina. Jurors may decide trials and courts must resolve these cases on an expedited schedule.
  • Attorneys and fees: Contingency fee caps would be 20 percent for settlements reached before a civil action is filed and 25 percent for settlements or judgments after filing. Fee splits between firms must match the work performed and attorneys may agree to lower fees.

The changes would take effect as if enacted on August 10, 2022 and apply to any claim under Section 804 that is pending or filed on or after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Lower lawyer fees for Camp Lejeune claims

If enacted, lawyers could take no more than 20% of a settlement reached before you file a civil case. If you file a case, fees could not exceed 25% of any judgment or later settlement. Lawyers from different firms would have to split fees based on their work. You and your lawyer could agree to a lower fee. These caps would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.

Faster Camp Lejeune cases and jury option

If enacted, pretrial coordination would occur in the Eastern District of North Carolina. You could ask to transfer your case for pretrial and trial to other North Carolina districts or the District of South Carolina. Courts would have to move these cases faster. Either side could ask for a jury trial against the United States. These rules would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.

Retroactive rules and unchanged deadlines for Lejeune claims

If enacted, the new rules would apply as if they began on August 10, 2022. They would cover pending cases and new cases filed on or after enactment. The bill would not change the existing statute of limitations in section 804(j). Filing deadlines and who can file would stay the same.

New proof rules for Camp Lejeune cases

If enacted, you would need to show a link between a Camp Lejeune water contaminant and your type of harm. You would also need to show you were at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days, even if not in a row. To prove cause, your evidence must either support a causal relationship or show it is at least as likely as not. These standards would apply as if starting August 10, 2022.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]

NC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 7/10/2025

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/10/2025

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

  • Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 7/16/2025

  • Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/21/2025

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/25/2025

  • Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 8/15/2025

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/3/2025

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 9/4/2025

  • Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 9/4/2025

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 9/8/2025

  • Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/10/2025

  • Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 9/15/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 9/19/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]

    GA • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]

    MP • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/29/2026

  • Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 12/10/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 12/30/2025

  • Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/23/2026

  • Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 5/7/2026

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 6/10/2026

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 6/29/2026

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 8/10/2026

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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