Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Introduced
Summary
Would expand recognition and benefits for veterans who served at toxic test locations in Nevada by creating presumptions and a registry. It would set rules to identify covered locations and treat service at those sites as sufficient evidence for some exposure-related claims, and it would require the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to share records and coordinate outreach.
Show full summary
- Veterans and families: Veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Nevada National Security Site, or Energy Department-listed locations would gain new presumptions for cancers and other diseases. VA would not require separate proof of exposure once service at a covered location is confirmed.
- VA and DoD operations: The bill would require VA and DoD to identify and verify members and former members who served at designated sites, share documentation to support claims, and adopt a process to classify contamination sites.
- Research, registry, and outreach: It would create a covered-location veteran registry to collect health data, support research, and let veterans opt out. It would also launch an authoritative toxic-exposure study within 180 days, allow funding transfers between Defense and Health and Human Services, and require reports to Congress and the National Academies.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
DoD must identify and share records
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Defense to classify DOE-listed facilities and Nevada Test Range sites as places where contamination occurred for service since January 27, 1951. DoD would establish a process to identify current and former members who served at those facilities and would share the information with VA. DoD could accept documentation but would not require veterans to submit proof for DoD to try to identify them.
More exposure presumptions for veterans
If enacted, the bill would make DOE-listed facilities and parts of the Nevada Test and Training Range "covered locations." Service at those sites on or after January 27, 1951 (Nevada sites as defined May 19, 2026) would be added to VA exposure presumptions. The bill would treat Nevada-area service involving installation development, construction, operation, or maintenance as radiation-risk activity until DoD certifies otherwise or until enactment. If enacted, VA could not require you to prove exposure to a specific toxic substance when your covered-location service is established.
VA registry for exposed veterans
If enacted, VA would create and maintain a registry of veterans who served at covered locations and may have toxic exposure. The registry would collect health and service information, help coordinate VA–DoD verification, and inform veterans about health care, benefits, and screenings. You would be able to opt out. VA would recruit veterans not represented in existing DoD or VA records and share registry data with DoD under privacy rules.
Study of toxic exposures
If enacted, VA and DoD would seek within 180 days to enter an agreement with HHS or another scientific group to study toxic exposures at covered locations. The study would identify exposures tied to military occupations, review links to cancer, and try to estimate cancer prevalence using VA/DoD records and the National Death Index. The organization that conducts the study must report results to VA, Congress, and scientific bodies. Money authorized to DoD for the study could be transferred to HHS to pay for it.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
NV • R
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov