In committee
Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2026
People affected—The bill does not name a population size. The affected population is veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range or EEOICP-listed facilities — a historically significant but bounded group; the exact number is not stated in the text.
Fiscal magnitude—No appropriation amount is specified. Transfer authority from DoD to HHS is granted for the study, but no dollar figure is named in the text.
Reach28provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Veterans who served at Nevada nuclear test sites or EEOICP facilitiesThese veterans gain a presumptive path to VA disability benefits — they no longer must prove exposure to a specific toxic substance as long as service at a covered location is established (Sec. 3(c)), and their covered locations are added to the statutory presumption lists (Sec. 4).
- Survivors and families of affected veteransDependents and survivors of veterans who served at covered locations may also benefit from expanded presumptive eligibility for VA survivor benefits, as the service-connection path for the veteran's illness is broadened.
Who it burdens
- Department of Veterans AffairsThe VA must establish an identification process (Sec. 3), commission and oversee a scientific study (Sec. 5), and build and maintain a new registry (Sec. 7), all of which require administrative resources and coordination with DoD.
- Department of DefenseDoD must classify specified locations as contaminated, establish processes to identify affected personnel, gather documentation, and share records with the VA (Sec. 8), creating new mandatory administrative duties.
Who backs it
- Federal taxpayers (via DoD appropriations)Amounts authorized for the DoD may be transferred to HHS to fund the scientific study on toxic exposure and health outcomes (Sec. 5(c)); the bill does not specify a dollar amount.