Up to 750,000 Marine veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water may be given free health care provided by the government if two senators from North Carolina have their way.<\/p>\n
Democrat Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican Sen. Richard Burr have both made moves to help the veterans, who were exposed to over 70 chemicals \u2013 including trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreaser, perchloroethylene (PCE), a dry cleaning solvent, and benzene \u2013 between the 1950s and 1980s.<\/p>\n
The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, in Onslow County, North Carolina, was originally contaminated when solvents were dumped near wells that held water used for drinking and bathing. The government had previously tried to deny a link between the toxins in the water and various illnesses that sprung up in veterans, but the denial was withdrawn in 2009.<\/p>\n
In early February, Sen. Hagan sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki asking him to speed up (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Up to 750,000 Marine veterans and their families who were exposed to contaminated water may be given free health care provided by the government if two senators from North Carolina have their way. Democrat Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican Sen.…<\/span><\/p>\n