Bill > S2220

This bill, known as the FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025, aims to expand protections and recognition for military personnel who may have been exposed to toxic substances. The bill requires the Department of Defense to enhance the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) to comprehensively document all toxic exposures for service members, including environmental and occupational hazards, and ensure this information is available to healthcare providers, researchers, and VA benefits specialists. It establishes a presumption of toxic exposure for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees stationed at certain Department of Energy facilities, and specifically focuses on classifying the Nevada Test and Training Range as a location of potential contamination. The bill mandates that the Air Force develop a process to identify military personnel stationed at the Nevada Test and Training Range since January 27, 1951, and requires the VA to treat certain activities at this location as radiation-risk activities. Additionally, the bill creates presumptions of toxic exposure for veterans assigned to duty stations within the Nevada Test and Training Range and adds provisions for service connection for specific medical conditions like lipomas and tumor-related conditions for veterans who served in this area. The overall goal is to improve recognition, documentation, and potential benefits for veterans who may have been exposed to harmful substances during their military service.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2220/all-info