Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025

This section establishes the official short title of the Act as the "Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025," providing a concise and easily referable name for the legislation. This formal naming convention allows for clear identification and referencing of the bill throughout the legislative process and in public discourse.

This subsection includes a Congressional finding that the Downwinder communities of New Mexico suffered generations of detrimental health effects, such as cancer and infertility, due to exposure to radioactive fallout. This exposure resulted from the detonation of the first atomic bomb on July 16, 1945. This finding serves to formally acknowledge the historical impact and suffering of these communities, providing the foundational justification for the commemorative actions mandated by the bill.

This provision directs the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Secretary of the Interior to jointly obtain three honorific plaques within one year of the Act's enactment. These plaques are designed to commemorate the Downwinder communities of New Mexico. One plaque is to be placed at White Sands Missile Range by the Army Secretary, another at Holloman Air Force Base by the Air Force Secretary, and the third at White Sands National Park by the Interior Secretary. All placements must be in appropriate, publicly accessible locations in New Mexico.