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Creates a legal definition for “secrecy oath program,” requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to find and notify veterans who participated in such programs about benefits they may be eligible for, and makes disability-compensation awards for covered participants effective as of the day after their discharge or release. It explicitly covers people who participated in the Edgewood Arsenal secrecy oath program (1948–1975) and veterans who took part in any other secrecy oath program.
Adds a statutory definition: “secrecy oath program” means a United States Government program in which participants are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement preventing the disclosure of any information regarding the program under penalty of court-martial or criminal punishment.
Redesignate subsections (c), (d), and (e) of 38 U.S.C. 6303 as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively.
Insert a new subsection (c) into 38 U.S.C. 6303 titled 'Notice to veterans of secrecy oath programs' that creates notice and distribution requirements for veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs.
Not later than 90 days after the date on which participants in a secrecy oath program are released from the oath, the Secretary shall: (A) identify the veterans who participated in the program; (B) notify each such veteran of all benefits and services under laws administered by the Department for which the veteran may be eligible; and (C) distribute the information described in subsection (d)(1) as required by that subsection.
If the Secretary later identifies veterans who are entitled to notice under the new subsection and did not receive such notice, the Secretary must, not later than 90 days after that identification, notify each such veteran of all benefits and services for which they may be eligible and distribute the information described in subsection (d)(1).
Who is affected and how:
Veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs: Primary beneficiaries. These veterans (including those who were part of the Edgewood Arsenal program and participants in other secrecy-oath programs) will be actively identified and notified by the VA about potential benefits. If they qualify for disability compensation, their award effective date will be set to the day after their discharge or release, which may increase the amount of retroactive payments.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff and systems: The VA must expend administrative resources to locate veterans, issue timely notices (generally within 90 days of identification or release), process claims, and implement the effective-date rule. This will likely increase workload for benefits processing, records searches, outreach, and appeals units.
Veterans’ families and representatives: Families, survivors, and accredited representatives who assist veterans in filing claims may see more cases and need to provide documentation and support for retroactive claims.
Fiscal and program effects: The effective-date rule could generate retroactive benefit payments for covered veterans. The legislation as provided does not include funding or appropriation language, so implementation costs (outreach, claims processing, retroactive payments) could affect VA budgets or require appropriation action later.
Legal and historical recognition: The statutory definition and special treatment for Edgewood Arsenal participants acknowledges the history of secrecy-oath programs and may facilitate benefit access for veterans previously prevented from disclosing participation.
Practical considerations:
Adds a new paragraph (5) to 38 U.S.C. 5110(b) establishing the effective date rule for disability compensation awards to veterans who participated in specified secrecy oath programs.
Redesignates subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; inserts a new subsection (c) requiring notice to veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs and specifying identification, notification, and distribution requirements; and makes conforming amendments to subsection references in subsection (a) and subsection (e).
Adds a new paragraph (3) to 38 U.S.C. 5100 defining the term 'secrecy oath program'.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal · Last progress May 7, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in Senate