What's happening
This bill designates July 16th each year as "Atomic Veterans' Day" in New York for commemoration.
Why it matters
Recognizes and honors a neglected group of veterans. By establishing Atomic Veterans’ Day, the bill brings acknowledgment to military personnel involved in nuclear weapons testing and related activities—groups often overlooked in traditional veterans’ commemorations.
Raises public awareness about the effects of nuclear testing. The annual observance can help educate the public about the unique health risks and sacrifices faced by atomic veterans, including potential radiation exposure and its consequences.
Supports advocacy for benefits and healthcare. Increased visibility may bolster efforts to secure healthcare, compensation, and recognition for atomic veterans, who have historically struggled for access to appropriate benefits.
Affirms New York’s commitment to inclusive commemoration. Adding this day demonstrates the state’s intent to honor the full spectrum of military service, reflecting evolving understandings of patriotic service and its costs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Atomic Veterans' Day
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Atomic Veterans' Day
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Kevin M. Byrne
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8266
IN SENATE
April 25, 2018
Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing July sixteenth of each year as a day of commemoration known as "Atomic Veterans' Day"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 168-a of the executive law, as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
3. The following days shall be days of commemoration in each year: January sixth, to be known as "Haym Salomon Day", January twenty-seventh, to be known as "Holocaust Remembrance Day", February fourth, to be known as "Rosa Parks Day", February fifteenth, to be known as "Susan B. Anthony Day", February sixteenth, to be known as "Lithuanian Independence Day", February twenty-eighth, to be known as "Gulf War Veterans' Day", March fourth, to be known as "Pulaski Day", March tenth, to be known as "Harriet Tubman Day", March twenty-ninth, to be known as "Vietnam Veterans' Day", April ninth, to be known as "POW Recognition Day", April twenty-seventh, to be known as "Coretta Scott King Day", April twenty-eighth, to be known as "Workers' Memorial Day", the first Tuesday in May to be known as "New York State Teacher Day", May seventeenth, to be known as "Thurgood Marshall Day", the first Sunday in June, to be known as "Children's Day", June second, to be known as "Italian Independence Day", June twelfth, to be known as "Women Veterans Recognition Day", June nineteenth, to be known as "Juneteenth Freedom Day", June twenty-fifth, to be known as "Korean War Veterans' Day", July sixteenth, to be known as "Atomic Veterans' Day", August twenty-fourth, to be known as "Ukrainian Independence Day", August twenty-sixth, to be known as "Women's Equality Day", September eleventh, to be known as "Battle of Plattsburgh Day" and also to be known as "September 11th Remembrance Day", September thirteenth, to be known as "John Barry Day" and also to be known as "Uncle Sam Day in the State of New York", September seventeenth, to be known as "Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Memorial Day", the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15355-02-8
S. 8266 2
third Friday in September to be known as "New York State POW/MIA Recognition Day" except if such date of commemoration cannot be observed due to a religious holiday, such observances shall then be conducted on the second Friday of September, the last Saturday in September, to be known as "War of 1812 Day", the fourth Saturday of September, known as "Native-American Day", the last Sunday in September, to be known as "Gold Star Mothers' Day", October fifth, to be known as "Raoul Wallenberg Day", October eleventh, to be known as "New Netherland Day in the State of New York", October eighteenth, to be known as "Disabilities History Day", October twenty-seventh, to be known as "Theodore Roosevelt Day", November ninth, to be known as "Witness for Tolerance Day", November twelfth, to be known as "Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day", the third Tuesday in November to be known as "New York State School-Related Professionals Recognition Day", November thirtieth, to be known as "Shirley Chisholm Day", December third, to be known as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities", December seventh, to be known as "Pearl Harbor Day", December sixteenth, to be known as "Bastogne Day" and that day of the Asian lunar calendar designated as new year to be known as "Asian New Year".
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing July sixteenth of each year as a day of commemoration known as "Atomic Veterans' Day"
Purpose
This bill would designate July 16th to be commemorated as Atomic Veter- ans Day in New York State.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 168-a of the executive law to designate July 16th to be known as "Atomic Veterans Day".
Section two provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
On July 16, 1945 the first detonation of an atomic weapon took place in New Mexico. Between 1945 and 1962, approximately 250,000 veterans were exposed, directly or indirectly, to ionizing radiation in the 235 atmo- spheric nuclear weapons explosions that the United States military performed. Some veterans were tasked with various duties including performing perimeter security or the clean up of nuclear detonation sites, while others were part of the U.S. military occupation forces located near the detonation sites in Japan. In some instances, the mili- tary used these veterans as test subjects to determine what detrimental health maladies might result. Further, in the course of their service and participation, or exposure, in these events these veterans were sworn to secrecy, promising never reveal what they experienced. In the many years since, countless veterans have contracted, and continue to suffer from illnesses, cancers, and diseases directly related to their exposure to the ionized radiation that resulted from nuclear detona- tions. This vow of silence kept thousands of veterans from being eligi- ble for medical treatment from the Veterans Administration due to fact of being unable to explain and substantiate a service connected disabil- ity with their time in service. It was not until 1996 when these veter- ans were allowed to break they vow of silence. It is time that we as a state acknowledge these service members, these heroes, our Atomic Veter- ans.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.