OATH Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
Identify and notify veterans from secrecy oath programs and reset disability award dates. This bill would add a legal definition of a "secrecy oath program", require the Department of Veterans Affairs to find participants and give them benefit information, and set certain disability compensation effective dates to the day after discharge or release.
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- Veterans in secrecy oath programs: The VA would identify participants and must notify each veteran of all benefits and services they may be eligible for within 90 days after the veteran is released from the oath.
- Edgewood Arsenal participants: The VA would specifically identify and notify veterans who served at Edgewood Arsenal from 1948 to 1975 and distribute the required benefit information within 90 days after enactment.
- Disability compensation recipients: For veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs, the effective date of a disability award would be the day after the veteran's discharge or release, establishing when payments begin.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More VA benefits for secrecy veterans
If enacted, this would define a "secrecy oath program" as a U.S. government program where participants signed NDAs and faced criminal punishment for talking. The VA would have to find veterans who took such oaths and tell each one about all VA benefits and services they may be eligible for. The VA would have 90 days after a veteran is released from the oath to identify and notify them, and must also identify and notify Edgewood Arsenal participants from January 1, 1948 through December 31, 1975 within 90 days of enactment. If enacted, disability compensation for these veterans would be effective the day after the veteran's discharge or release, which can create retroactive payments and earlier monthly pay.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov