Sen. Rosen, Rep. Susie Lee Announce Introduction of Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation in Nevada

Skip to content Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Flickr Newsletter Español Newsletter Español Search For Nevadans Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Flag Requests Tour Requests Internships Senate Page Nominations Academy Nominations Resource Guides Veterans Resource Guide Senior Resource Guide Small Business Pocket Guide Federal Funding Grant Requests Appropriations Requests Community Project Funding FY27 NDAA Submission Requests About Jacky Biography Committees Voting Record News Press Releases In The News Videos Photos Contact Email Jacky Request a Meeting Office Locations Newsletter Signup Privacy Policy For Nevadans Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Flag Requests Tour Requests Internships Senate Page Nominations Academy Nominations Resource Guides Veterans Resource Guide Senior Resource Guide Small Business Pocket Guide Federal Funding Grant Requests Appropriations Requests Community Project Funding FY27 NDAA Submission Requests About Jacky Biography Committees Voting Record News Press Releases In The News Videos Photos Contact Email Jacky Request a Meeting Office Locations Newsletter Signup Privacy Policy Sen. Rosen, Rep. Susie Lee Announce Introduction of Bill to Support Veterans Exposed to Radiation in Nevada May 28, 2026 LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) hosted a joint press conference with Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03) and former U.S. Air Force Sergeant Dave Crete to announce the upcoming introduction of the Sergeant Dave Crete Fighting for the Overlooked Recognition of Groups Operating in Toxic Test Environments in Nevada (FORGOTTEN) Veterans Act . This bill would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to classify the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) as a location where contamination occurred as well as locations which the Department of Energy (DOE) classifies as contaminated, identify everyone who served within the NTTR since the date of the first nuclear test on the range in 1951, establish a process for servicemembers and veterans to provide proof of their service within the NTTR and at DOE covered facilities, and require the DOD to share this collected documentation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as any injuries, exposures, or illnesses related to their service, so that veterans will finally be able to claim and access their VA benefits. From the 1950s through the 1990s, the NTTR – and the Nevada Test Site contained within it – conducted over 900 explosive nuclear weapons tests and other dangerous, toxic activities. Currently, due to issues with the classified nature of their location while serving, veterans who served at the NTTR are unable to prove their service there to the VA, making them unable to receive care and benefits they are owed from the VA under the PACT Act . Additionally, they are unable to prove their contamination exposure and access this care because the DOD does not consider the NTTR to be a location where contamination occurred, as DOE does. “The veterans who served within the Nevada Test and Training Range were exposed to radiation and other toxic exposures. The fact that the Department of Defense does not deem portions of the range as contaminated and their personnel as exposed has prevented our veterans from receiving the PACT Act benefits they deserve,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce I’m introducing the Sergeant Dave Crete FORGOTTEN Veterans Act with Congresswoman Susie Lee to correct this failure and ensure that our veterans have access to the care that they deserve. I’ll always work with anyone – Democrat or Republican – to ensure our veterans are taken care of.” “It’s embarrassing that our country is taking this long to allow veterans who were exposed to toxins at the Nevada Test and Training Range to service-connect their illnesses and access the care they deserve,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “I’m grateful for the tireless partnership of Senator Rosen and Sergeant Dave Crete as we continue to fight for these veterans and introduce new legislation to finally right this wrong.” “What we’re asking for is for the same benefits that everybody else gets. Just because we had a top-secret security clearance, that shouldn’t be the reason that we can’t get the benefits that they promised us when we enlisted in the military,” said former U.S. Air Force Sergeant Dave Crete. “I want to thank Senator Jacky Rosen and Congresswoman Susie Lee for introducing this bill and continuing to fight to ensure the servicemembers who risked our lives for the safety of the nation have access to the care we earned.” Senator Rosen has been leading the push in Congress to ensure veterans who served within the NTTR receive the presumption of exposure, benefits, and care that they deserve. Last year, she introduced the first version of the Forgotten Veterans Act , which advanced out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee . Senator Rosen also included much of her FORGOTTEN Veterans Act in the Senate’s Nati