Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
Classifies the Nevada Test and Training Range as a location where Armed Forces members were exposed to toxic substances, treats specified service there as radiation-risk activity for VA presumptions, and adds the location to VA toxic-exposure presumptions.
Who Benefits and How
Veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range benefit because the Defense Department must classify it as a contamination and exposure location. Veterans with radiation-linked diseases benefit if their service is treated as a radiation-risk activity for VA presumptions. Surviving spouses and families benefit if recognition improves access to VA benefits connected to toxic exposure. Veterans service organizations benefit from clearer statutory recognition for an overlooked test environment.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Defense Department must make the exposure-location classification. VA claims processors must apply radiation-risk and toxic-exposure presumptions to eligible claims. Federal taxpayers may bear increased benefit costs. Veterans still need to meet service, disease, and claim requirements under the amended statutes.
Key Provisions
- Requires the Defense Secretary to classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as a toxic-exposure location.
- Adds specified Nevada Test and Training Range service to VA radiation-risk activity provisions.
- Adds the location to VA toxic-exposure presumption provisions.
- Supports recognition of groups operating in Nevada toxic test environments.
- Creates claims-processing work for VA and exposure-classification work for DOD.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Classifies the Nevada Test and Training Range as a location where Armed Forces members were exposed to toxic substances, treats specified service there as radiation-risk activity for VA presumptions, and adds the location to VA toxic-exposure presumptions.
Key Policy Areas
Veterans, Radiation Exposure, Toxic Exposure
Primary Purpose
Classifies the Nevada Test and Training Range as a location where Armed Forces members were exposed to toxic substances, treats specified service there as radiation-risk activity for VA presumptions, and adds the location to VA toxic-exposure presumptions.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Nevada Test and Training Range veterans
- Veterans with radiation-linked diseases
- Surviving spouses
- Veterans service organizations
Identified Costs
- Defense Department
- VA claims processors
- Federal taxpayers
- Veterans filing claims
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an …
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Ms. Rosen (for herself and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Nevada Test and Training Range veterans, Surviving spouses, VA claims processors
Positive-direction: Nevada Test and Training Range veterans, Surviving spouses, Veterans with radiation-linked diseases
Negative-direction: VA claims processors
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "va"
- → Department of Veterans Affairs
- "secretary_defense"
- → Secretary of Defense
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology