S. 1665

119 S1665 IS: Obligations to Aberdeen’s Trusted Heroes Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-05-07
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 1665  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   May 7, 2025   Mr. Blumenthal  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure veterans of secrecy oath programs receive the full benefits they have earned, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Obligations to Aberdeen’s Trusted Heroes Act of 2025   or the   OATH Act of 2025  .
2.
Definition of secrecy oath program
Section 5100 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
The term  secrecy oath program  means a United States Government program in which participants are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement preventing the disclosure of any information regarding the program under penalty of court-martial or criminal punishment.
 .
3.
Notice to veterans of secrecy oath programs regarding benefits
(a)
Notice required
(1)
In general
Section 6303 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
(c)
Notice to veterans of secrecy oath programs
(1)
Not later than 90 days after the date on which participants in a secrecy oath program are released from the oath taken under such program, the Secretary shall—
(A)
identify the veterans who participated in the program;
(B)
notify each such veteran of all benefits and services under laws administered by the Department for which the veteran may be eligible; and
(C)
distribute the information described in subsection (d)(1) as required by such subsection.
(2)
If the Secretary identifies any veterans who are entitled to notice under paragraph (1) and did not receive such notice, the Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the date of any such identification—
(A)
notify each such veteran of all benefits and services under laws administered by the Department for which the veteran may be eligible; and
(B)
distribute the information described in subsection (d)(1) as required by such subsection.
(3)
In this subsection, the term  secrecy oath program  has the meaning given that term in section 5100 of this title.
 .
(2)
Conforming amendments
Section 6303 of such title is further amended—
(A)
in subsection (a), by striking  through (d)  and inserting  through (e) ; and
(B)
in subsection (e), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking  subsections (b) and (c)  and inserting  subsections (b), (c), and (d) .
(b)
Edgewood Arsenal program
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
(1)
identify the veterans who participated in the secrecy oath program at Edgewood Arsenal at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1948, and ending on December 31, 1975;
(2)
notify each such veteran of all benefits and services under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for which the veteran may be eligible; and
(3)
distribute the information described in section 6303(d)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), as required by such section.
4.
Effective dates of awards of disability compensation for participants in secrecy oath programs
Section 5110(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5)
(A)
The effective date of an award of disability compensation to a veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall be the day following the date of the veteran’s discharge or release.
(B)
A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran who—
(i)
participated in the secrecy oath program at Edgewood Arsenal at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1948, and ending on December 31, 1975; or
(ii)
participated in any other secrecy oath program not described in clause (i).
 .