Clarity Update and a Call to Action (Netflix users needed)

[Deety]

Clarity Update and a Call to Action

Those of you who have been here for years have a sense of what Will has gone through, not only in dealing with his medical conditions but also in getting a diagnosis or access to medical care without one.

For those who are not familiar with the situation, Will's immune system is systematically attacking and in some cases severely damaging his lungs, liver, sinuses, central nervous system, and connective tissues. His symptoms make simple activities many of us take for granted extraordinarily difficult, and it is nearly impossible for him to leave the house even for a visit to a nearby doctor save in very carefully controlled, limited circumstances. While his condition keeps him from posting as much as we would all like, he directs most of his available energy into building, updating, and maintaining the site behind the scenes on a daily basis.

Here is Clarity's thread from the 2006 drive. Please take a moment to look at it - this is where things stood at that time, with no diagnosis, no medical care to help figure it out, not even consensus that it was all connected. Two years later, in 2008, Congress mandated that the Marine Corps notify former base residents of Camp Lejeune of a serious water contamination issue affecting a couple generations of Marines and their dependents.

Today, in large part with BP's help and support, Will has a diagnosis, limited access to medical care, and at least some of the questions finally have answers.

As many of you already know, as this all came to light during BP's relatively young life, my own health issues are the direct and ultimate result of the aforementioned contamination. I was born in the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune and we lived at that time in what was the junior officer housing right on Tarawa Terrace while my father was still serving in Vietnam and then back at home as a young infantry lieutenant. So during the whole of my time all up in my mother's business (it's science), she (and I by way of her) were quite literally bathing and drinking water loaded with sort of insane levels of TCE, PCE, and benzene (amongst other toxic compounds). The end result of all of that is quite measurable in myself, but I'm actually one of the luckier ones compared to those who were born in the same place and lived in the same area (right there on base) -- lucky in the sense that I'm here typing this.

Semper Fi: Always Faithful

MSNBC recently aired a documentary detailing the contamination and the work former Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger has done to bring the issue to light. Here is where you can find information about the documentary, which is discussed in this thread.

Semper Fi: Always Faithful - MSNBC page
Semper Fi: Always Faithful - Documentary page
Netflix
iTunes ($9.99 purchase)
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Semper-Fi-Always-Faithful/dp/B006YMLR9Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1326824452&sr=1-1"]Amazon[/ame] ($3.99 rental, $9.99 purchase)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szjk8TKE_Hw"]SemperFi: Always Faithful - YouTube[/ame]

Call to Action

Here is the legislation that would be essential for opening up the availability of medical services to Will and many, many others affected by the contamination:

H.R.1742 -- Janey Ensminger Act
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1742.IH:

A family member of a veteran described in section 1119(a)(3) of this title who resided at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during the period described in such section, or who was in utero during such period while the mother of such family member resided at such location, shall be eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care furnished by the Secretary for any covered condition, or any covered disability that is associated with a condition, that is associated with exposure to the contaminants in the water at Camp Lejeune during such period.

Please take a moment and support this legislation. The links below make it easy to do so, and it's very important.

LINK

SUPPORT THE CAMP LEJEUNE LEGISLATION

We need your help to pass Camp Lejeune legislation that is currently pending in the House and Senate. The legislation will provide healthcare to former Camp Lejeune residents who are suffering from their exposure to the contaminated water.
Please contact your elected officials and ask them to co-sponsor the following legislation:

1. Download sample letters for the House & Senate here.
   House: THE JANEY ENSMINGER ACT (HR 1742)
   Senate: THE CARING FOR CAMP LEJEUNE VETERANS ACT (S 277)
2. Find your elected officials' contact information here.
   We urge you to add your own feelings and ideas into the letter.
   Customized letters have greater impact!

For more information

The Few, the Proud, the Forgotten
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ATSDR Health Survey of Marine Corps Personnel and Civilians

 

[sandgk]

You can send your Congresscritter and both Senators in your state a letter asking that they support the House Bill and S 277 the sister legislation in the Senate via Open Congress. I just did and I urge all members of this site to do likewise.

And Deety - I'll be getting a 2012 ribbon the old-fashioned way, once PayPal is straightened out.

 

[jlb1705]

You can send your Congresscritter and both Senators in your state a letter asking that they support the House Bill and S 277 the sister legislation in the Senate via Open Congress. I just did and I urge all members of this site to do likewise.

And Deety - I'll be getting a 2012 ribbon the old-fashioned way, once PayPal is straightened out.

Done. The Open Congress link makes it easy. They give you a lot of message building options and pull the contact info for your representative and both senators just by entering your zip code. I copied the sample letter from semperfialwaysfaithful.com into Open Congress and sent it off. It also gives you an option to post your letter to Twitter and Facebook so you can help spread the word to people outside of BP.

 

[fanaticbuckeye]

You can send your Congresscritter and both Senators in your state a letter asking that they support the House Bill and S 277 the sister legislation in the Senate via Open Congress. I just did and I urge all members of this site to do likewise.

And Deety - I'll be getting a 2012 ribbon the old-fashioned way, once PayPal is straightened out.

Done.

 

[Basebuck]

Done.

 

[localyokel]

Done. Also linked the docu & Open Congress site on facebook.

 

[Folanator]

Done!

 

[southcampus]

You can send your Congresscritter and both Senators in your state a letter asking that they support the House Bill and S 277 the sister legislation in the Senate via Open Congress. I just did and I urge all members of this site to do likewise.

And Deety - I'll be getting a 2012 ribbon the old-fashioned way, once PayPal is straightened out.

done.

 

[Deety]

Big news!

Landmark Camp Lejeune Healthcare Bill passes Congress!‏

Dear friends and supporters,


We have some amazing news to share with you. Yesterday, the United States Congress unanimously passed the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act (which includes The Janey Ensminger Act). The bill now goes to the President for his signature.

This historic piece of legislation provides health care benefits to veterans and their families made ill from polluted drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

This incredible victory is due in large part to the tireless work of Jerry Ensminger who has led a decades-long battle for justice on behalf of his daughter Janey who was diagnosed with leukemia at six years old. As Janey fought her disease, she told her Aunt Marie that she was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to make a difference in the world. But her legacy lives on in this legislation and is proof that that social change is possible especially when undertaken by relentless and determined individuals. It's been an honor for us to share Janey and Jerry's story with the world.

We also want to congratulate Mike Partain and Major Tom Townsend who have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Jerry and helped elevate this issue to a national level. It saddens us that Denita McCall succumbed to her illness before this day arrived. But her dedication to this issue paved the way for others to receive help they so desperately need.

Finally, we want to acknowledge the unwavering dedication of Representative Brad Miller, Senator Richard Burr and Senator Kay Hagen. They have stood by this legislation and worked very hard for its passage.

Many of you have attended our screenings, written your Senators and Representatives and signed the petition on Change.org. This passage could not have happened without the public outcry that made it impossible for Congress to turn away. Thank you so much your support of the film and the cause.

There's still work to be done but today let's all celebrate this remarkable victory!

 

[jwinslow]

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Great news!

I assume BP subscriptions will now be reduced to $49 (regularly $77)?

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Yay!

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Awesome!

 

[colobuck79]

Awesome! Better late than never!

 

[Taosman]

This has been a long time coming and it's great to see people step up and get this done.