119-S-2220 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

The FORGOTTEN Veterans Act (S. 2220) would presume toxic exposure for many service members who served at Nevada’s Test and Training Range (NTTR) or at Department of Energy–listed facilities, and require DoD to better document exposures so the VA can more easily grant benefits. [1]Congress.gov — S.2220 — 119th Congress: FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025 (Overvie…[2]Congress.gov — S.2220 — Bill Text

What It Does

- Expands DoD’s Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) to capture all toxic exposures (including inside the U.S.) and related medical info, and makes it available to VA clinicians, researchers, and claims staff—while protecting classified details. [2]Congress.gov — S.2220 — Bill Text[3]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA: The Individual Longitudinal Exposure…

- Presumes exposure for DoD personnel who served at facilities on DOE’s covered-facility list (used in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program), aligning them more closely with civilian coworkers at those sites. [2]Congress.gov — S.2220 — Bill Text[4]U.S. Department of Energy — DOE: Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensa…

- Classifies the Nevada Test and Training Range as a contamination site, directs the Air Force to identify everyone stationed there since January 27, 1951 (and accept veterans’ documentation), and adds NTTR service to VA’s list of radiation‑risk activities; it also adds lipomas and tumor‑related conditions as presumptive for covered veterans. [2]Congress.gov — S.2220 — Bill Text

Who’s For It

• Lead sponsors: Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) say the bill fixes a records-and-secrecy gap that has blocked NTTR veterans from accessing PACT Act benefits. [5]Office of Sen. Jacky Rosen — Sen. Rosen press release announcing the FORGOTTEN…[6]Office of Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto — Sen. Cortez Masto press release on the…
• Veterans advocates: The Invisible Enemy (a nonprofit founded by NTTR veterans) and advocates like Dave Crete back the bill as a path to recognition and care. [5]Office of Sen. Jacky Rosen — Sen. Rosen press release announcing the FORGOTTEN…[7]The Invisible Enemy — The Invisible Enemy (advocacy nonprofit) – homepage[8]Las Vegas Review-Journal — Las Vegas Review-Journal: Plan aims to help veterans…
• Local coverage in Nevada has highlighted the measure’s goal of parity for DoD personnel who served alongside DOE workers at sites like Tonopah Test Range. [8]Las Vegas Review-Journal — Las Vegas Review-Journal: Plan aims to help veterans…
• Air Force engagement: Prior hearings featured commitments from senior Air Force leaders to work on documentation and exposure recognition at classified locations, aligning with the bill’s intent. [9]Office of Sen. Jacky Rosen — Sen. Rosen: Video and letter on Air Force commitme…

Who’s Against It

• As of December 12, 2025, no formal, public opposition is recorded on Congress.gov; the bill has been referred to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee with one listed cosponsor. [1]Congress.gov — S.2220 — 119th Congress: FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025 (Overvie…
• Potential concerns raised in similar debates: expanding presumptions can increase mandatory VA spending and strain claims processing; PACT Act implementation has involved large new volumes of claims and significant funding. [10]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA PACT Act Performance Dashboard[11]The American Legion — American Legion: VA budget tops $400 billion for 2025, in…[12]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA: The PACT Act and your VA benefits
• Implementation details: verifying service at classified sites and integrating exposure data into ILER while protecting secrecy may be complex; the bill’s checkbox/documentation approach aims to mitigate this. [2]Congress.gov — S.2220 — Bill Text[3]U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA: The Individual Longitudinal Exposure…

What’s Next

Status: S. 2220 was introduced on July 9, 2025, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; a committee hearing was held on December 10, 2025. Next steps would typically include a committee markup, potential committee vote, and then consideration by the full Senate. [1]Congress.gov — S.2220 — 119th Congress: FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2025 (Overvie…