Sponsors (3)
The bill greatly expands presumptive coverage and proactive identification for veterans exposed at Nevada and DOE sites—improving access to benefits, care, and research—while increasing federal costs, administrative burdens, and risks of implementation, privacy, and uneven coverage.
Veterans and former service members who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range or DOE-listed facilities (back to Jan 27, 1951) gain explicit presumptive coverage for radiation- and toxic-exposure conditions, making them eligible for VA healthcare and disability compensation without proving specific exposures.
Veterans will face lower evidentiary hurdles — the law removes the requirement to prove exposure to a specific toxic substance once service at a covered location is confirmed, simplifying and strengthening many claims.
Veterans will be proactively identified and notified through DoD personnel/deployment records and a central registry, making it easier for affected individuals to learn about and access VA care and benefits.
Taxpayers and the federal budget will face higher costs because expanding presumptions and identifying more eligible veterans will increase VA and DoD benefit payments and program administration.
Veterans and claims processors may face slower decisions because the VA and DoD will incur substantial additional administrative workload to implement identification, adjudication, and new presumptions, risking delays in benefits delivery.
Reliance on external lists, cross-references, and a dated definition (e.g., DOE Federal Register lists and definitions as of May 19, 2026) could create implementation confusion and disputes over which locations/timeframes qualify, delaying some claims.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Expands VA presumptions, creates a registry, and orders a study to identify and support veterans exposed to toxins at DOE-listed sites and Nevada test areas, easing claims.
Creates a presumptive framework, registry, and study process so veterans who served at specified DOE facilities or within the Nevada Test and Training Range/Nevada National Security Site since Jan 27, 1951 are identified, studied for toxic exposures, and can access VA benefits without having to prove exposure to a specific toxin. It directs VA and DoD to share records, requires DoD to designate affected locations and identify personnel, authorizes a coordinated scientific study with HHS (or another body), and establishes a registry to support outreach, research, and claims adjudication.
Official title: Improve benefits for veterans who may have been exposed to toxic substances, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 3, 2026 by Jacklyn Sheryl Rosen · Last progress June 3, 2026