Senator Rosen advocates for veterans' exposure documentation at classified military sites
September 11, 2025 | Armed Services: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation
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The Full Committee Hearing held on September 11, 2025, by the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Forces focused on the nomination of General Christopher J. Mahoney, USMC, for reappointment to the grade of general and to serve as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The meeting was chaired by Senator Whitaker, with Senator Reid serving as the ranking member.
Senator Rosen opened the discussion by expressing gratitude to General Mahoney for his service and the presence of his family. She then raised a critical issue regarding the documentation of exposure for service members stationed at classified locations. Senator Rosen highlighted concerns from constituents who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range, where they believe they were exposed to radiation and burn pits during nuclear weapons testing. She pointed out that the Department of Defense (DOD) does not classify these locations as sites of exposure, which complicates veterans' ability to prove their service-related injuries to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Senator Rosen emphasized the importance of ensuring that service members' records accurately reflect their service-connected injuries, particularly for those stationed at data masked locations. She noted that the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes provisions aimed at addressing this issue and called for senior Pentagon leadership to support these efforts.
In response, General Mahoney acknowledged the concerns raised by Senator Rosen and committed to working with her and the committee to address the documentation of exposure for relevant locations. He expressed his intention to assess the issue further if confirmed and reiterated the obligation to provide high-quality healthcare to all service members, regardless of their service locations.
The hearing concluded with a commitment from General Mahoney to engage in further discussions regarding the data masked locations and the necessary steps to ensure veterans receive the documentation needed to support their health-related claims. The committee's focus on this issue underscores the ongoing challenges faced by veterans in proving their service-related health issues, particularly in classified environments.
Senator Rosen opened the discussion by expressing gratitude to General Mahoney for his service and the presence of his family. She then raised a critical issue regarding the documentation of exposure for service members stationed at classified locations. Senator Rosen highlighted concerns from constituents who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range, where they believe they were exposed to radiation and burn pits during nuclear weapons testing. She pointed out that the Department of Defense (DOD) does not classify these locations as sites of exposure, which complicates veterans' ability to prove their service-related injuries to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Senator Rosen emphasized the importance of ensuring that service members' records accurately reflect their service-connected injuries, particularly for those stationed at data masked locations. She noted that the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes provisions aimed at addressing this issue and called for senior Pentagon leadership to support these efforts.
In response, General Mahoney acknowledged the concerns raised by Senator Rosen and committed to working with her and the committee to address the documentation of exposure for relevant locations. He expressed his intention to assess the issue further if confirmed and reiterated the obligation to provide high-quality healthcare to all service members, regardless of their service locations.
The hearing concluded with a commitment from General Mahoney to engage in further discussions regarding the data masked locations and the necessary steps to ensure veterans receive the documentation needed to support their health-related claims. The committee's focus on this issue underscores the ongoing challenges faced by veterans in proving their service-related health issues, particularly in classified environments.
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