S 3237 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Patriot Bill of Rights

S 3237 amends the Camp Lejeune Justice Act to require individuals filing lawsuits over water contamination at Camp Lejeune to acknowledge free legal guidance options from veterans services, Congress, and the Navy. Attorneys must disclose their fee structure (whether based on case outcome or paid upfront) and file written confirmations with the Navy. Law firms receiving veteran data from advertising agencies must reduce attorney fees by the data cost amount. These requirements apply to all pending and new cases under the Act, affecting veterans and families seeking compensation for health issues linked to Camp Lejeune's contaminated water.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2023

Committee Review

Jun 2024

Senate Passage

Jun 2024

House Passage

President

Introduced Nov 7, 2023 Last action Jun 7, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 6 edits · Jun 4, 2024

MODERATE

The Engrossed version narrows the section's scope from all individuals to veterans specifically, expands the description of free guidance to explicitly cover VA disability benefits, removes the Navy Tort Claims Unit as a free guidance option, and deletes two entire provisions: one requiring attorneys to file fee arrangement disclosures with the Secretary of the Navy, and one requiring law firms that receive veteran data from advertising agencies to reduce their legal fees by the cost of that data.

SCOPE

All references to 'an individual' were changed to 'a veteran,' narrowing the acknowledgment requirements to apply only to veterans rather than any person bringing a Camp Lejeune water contamination claim.

REQUIREMENT

The free guidance acknowledgment was expanded to explicitly state that veterans may seek advice on 'any disability awards, payments, or benefits, in addition to and separate from rights provided under this Act, to which the veteran may be entitled under any program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.'

The option to seek free guidance from the Tort Claims Unit of the Department of the Navy was removed as one of the available sources.

ENFORCEMENT

An entire paragraph requiring attorneys to file a written acknowledgment with the Secretary of the Navy confirming that the claimant understood (1) legal representation is not required and (2) the specific terms of the attorney's fee arrangement (contingent or post-award payment) was deleted.

FISCAL

A provision requiring law firms that receive veteran data from an advertising agency to reduce the attorney's legal fee by an amount equal to the cost incurred to receive that data was deleted.

TECHNICAL

The 'Application to pending matters' paragraph was renumbered and now references only paragraph (1) instead of both paragraphs (1) and (2), consistent with the removal of the attorney acknowledgment requirement.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 4, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3962)

upper

Jun 4, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3962)

upper

Jun 4, 2024

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Nov 7, 2023

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

upper

Nov 7, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor