Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act

The Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act (H.R. 2747) would require the Department of Defense to create a formal military service medal to honor veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation during their service. This recognition is specifically intended for "Atomic Veterans" who participated in nuclear weapons tests, served in the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, or were held as prisoners of war in those areas.

For eligible veterans and their families, the bill provides a way to receive official government recognition for service that was often performed under high-risk conditions and kept secret for decades. If the veteran is deceased, the bill allows their next-of-kin to apply for and receive the medal in their honor. While this specific 2015 bill did not become law on its own, its core objective was eventually achieved through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which officially established the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal.