Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill aims to help veterans who were exposed to dangerous chemicals or radiation while serving at the Nevada Test and Training Range. It would officially recognize that anyone stationed there since January 1951 was likely exposed to toxins, making it much easier for them to get medical care and disability benefits.
• The policy covers both military members and civilian Department of Defense employees who worked at specific Department of Energy facilities or the Nevada test range. It specifically adds certain conditions, like fatty tumors and other tumor-related illnesses, to the list of health problems the government will automatically cover for these workers.
• The Department of Defense would be required to keep better records of every time a service member is exposed to a hazard, even if it happens within the United States. For those who worked at top-secret locations, the military would use a simple check-box system to prove they were in a dangerous area without giving away classified secrets.
• Many veterans have struggled to prove they were exposed to toxins because their work was classified or records were lost. This bill shifts the burden of proof; instead of the veteran having to prove they were exposed, the government will assume they were if they served at these specific locations.
• The Air Force would be responsible for finding and identifying people who served at the Nevada range over the last 70 years. Veterans would not have to dig up their own old paperwork to prove they were there; the government would be required to do the legwork to identify them and update their records.