S. 2220: Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act of 2025, aims to enhance support and recognition for veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances, particularly those related to military operations at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and other relevant facilities. The bill encompasses several key initiatives:

1. Expansion of the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record

The bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to expand the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) to include:

• Documentation of all toxic exposures members of the Armed Forces face during service, including those occurring within the U.S.
• Medical information related to toxic exposures, such as diagnoses, treatments, and relevant laboratory data.
• Access to the ILER for healthcare providers, epidemiologists, and disability evaluation specialists within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• Inclusion of information in service records that indicates if a service member was stationed at a location where there was potential exposure to toxins, while also protecting classified information regarding those locations.

2. Presumption of Exposure for Armed Forces and Civilian Employees

The bill establishes that members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense stationed at certain designated facilities—which are identified in a specific federal program—will be presumed to have been exposed to toxic substances. This presumption aids in easing the process for veterans seeking health benefits.

3. Classification of Nevada Test and Training Range

The Secretary of Defense is required to classify the Nevada Test and Training Range as a location where contamination and potential toxic exposure occurred. The bill also mandates the Secretary of the Air Force to identify current and former personnel stationed at NTTR since January 27, 1951. This identification process aims to streamline the acknowledgment of service-related health issues.

4. Treatment of Exposure as Radiation-Risk Activities

The legislation amends existing laws to recognize onsite participation at military installations within the Nevada Test and Training Range as activities that carry radiation risk, which may affect eligibility for certain VA benefits.

5. Presumptions of Toxic Exposure by the Department of Veterans Affairs

The bill updates regulations to recognize service at covered locations at the Nevada Test and Training Range as a basis for presuming toxic exposure, aiding veterans in proving connections between their military service and health issues related to toxic exposure.

6. Presumption of Service Connection

Lastly, the bill defines conditions related to certain tumors and lipomas in relation to veterans who are classified under the toxic exposure presumptions, simplifying claims for service connection for these conditions.

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