Congressman Steven Horsford Demands Accountability for Nevada Servicemembers from Department of Defense

Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, Congressman Steven Horsford questioned the Department of Defense Deputy Secretary David Norquist on the Trump administration's proposed defense budget for Fiscal Year 2021.

In his statement, Congressman Horsford demanded the Trump administration promise to not strip funds from military installations in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District and shared the story of Kelly Charles, a Marine veteran who has suffered health complications following exposure to contaminated water while serving at Camp Lejeune.

"President Trump has rerouted billions of dollars in Congressionally approved funding for military projects throughout the country to build his unnecessary and ineffective border wall. Can you guarantee that none of the military installations in my district will have its funding stripped to pay for the border wall?" Congressman Horsford asked Deputy Secretary Norquist.

Deputy Secretary Norquist was not able to respond but agreed to provide any advanced notice to Congressman Horsford if funding would be moved from any of the military installations in his district.

In discussing the story of Nevada constituent Kelly Charles, Congressman Horsford called for Deputy Secretary Norquist and the Department of Defense to commit to ending the exposure of dangerous chemicals to servicemembers across the country. While serving in the marines, Mr. Charles was exposed to toxic chemicals, known as PFAS, and developed thyroid cancer as a result. Creech Air Force Base in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District has been identified as one military installation where servicemembers could possibly be exposed to PFAS.

"We must make sure that we are taking the necessary actions to prevent our servicemembers, like Kelly Charles, from being exposed to contaminated waters. Protecting our military men and women abroad is extremely important, but protecting them here at home is important as well," Congressman Horsford implored Deputy Secretary Norquist.

This video can be watched and downloaded here.