Bill · S. 1665· Senate(119-S-1665)
OATH Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 5/7/2025
- Last activity
- 3/18/2026 — Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Sponsored by
- Richard Blumenthal
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The OATH Act of 2025 aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code to protect veterans who participated in secrecy oath programs. These programs require participants to sign non-disclosure agreements under threat of court-martial or criminal punishment. The bill requires the Secretary to identify these veterans and notify them of all eligible benefits and services. Specifically, it mandates action for those who participated in the Edgewood Arsenal program between 1948 and 1975. Additionally, the act adjusts the effective date for disability compensation awards for these specific veterans.
Yes· 3 of 5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+10
The bill directly provides long-overdue benefits and notifications to veterans of secrecy oath programs.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+9
The bill provides retroactive disability compensation and proactive notification for veterans bound by secrecy oaths.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+8
The bill ensures veterans in secrecy programs are notified of and can access earned healthcare and disability benefits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Mandatory Notification of Benefits: The Secretary is required to identify veterans in secrecy oath programs and notify them of all benefits and services they may be eligible for under Department laws (Section 3, subsection a). This ensures veterans who were bound by secrecy are aware of the support they earned.
-
Catch-up Provisions for Notice: If the Secretary identifies veterans who were supposed to receive notice but did not, the Secretary must notify them within 90 days (Section 3, subsection a). This provides a safety net for those overlooked by the system.
-
Specific Focus on Edgewood Arsenal Veterans: The Secretary must specifically identify and notify veterans who participated in the Edgewood Arsenal program at Aberdeen Proving Ground between January 1, 1948, and December 31, 1975 (Section 3, subsection b).
-
Adjusted Disability Compensation Timing: For veterans of the Edgewood Arsenal program and other secrecy oath programs, the effective date of an award of disability compensation will be the day following the date of their discharge or release (Section 4). This ensures compensation is applied retroactively to their release date.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+10Good For Retirees+7Good For Seniors+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+9
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+8
- 3/18/2026
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 12/10/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-247.
- 5/7/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate