A new law gives health benefits to Marines and their families.
It's called the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act.
President Obama signed the bill at the White House yesterday.
Health benefits will now be available to those exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
Health experts say about a million people may have been exposed between 1957 to 1987.
One man born on the base says the largest cluster of men diagnosed with breast cancer were exposed to chemicals linked to the disease.
The president says the law will not bring back those who have died, but says it will honor their memory.
The new law also bans protests at military funerals within 300 feet.
Here is a statement from NC Governor Perdue regarding President Obama’s signing of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012:
“Taking care of our service members and their families is as important as anything government does. Providing health benefits for the families who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune was long overdue. Helping these families is the right thing to do; I commend President Obama, Senators Burr and Hagan, Representative’s Miller, the rest of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation, and the others who got this done.”
