Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6444 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6444

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a Blast 
                        Overpressure Task Force.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 4, 2025

Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself, Mr. Alford, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, 
 and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a Blast 
                        Overpressure Task Force.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Blast Overpressure Research and 
Mitigation Task Force Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BLAST OVERPRESSURE TASK FORCE OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish, through the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of 
Defense Joint Executive Committee under section 320 of title 38, United 
States Code, the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force are the following:
            (1) To improve how the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Defense, provides health 
        care and other benefits to veterans or members of the Armed 
        Forces diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic 
        stress disorder, or other symptoms, from blast overpressure or 
        blast exposure.
            (2) To align research agendas and acquisition strategies of 
        the Department regarding such health care.
            (3) To establish physiological and cognitive performance 
        baselines for such veterans and members.
            (4) To prioritize translational research regarding such 
        veterans and members, including research regarding--
                    (A) sleep therapy;
                    (B) blast-related gut health;
                    (C) mobile diagnostics;
                    (D) vestibular dysfunction and balance impairment;
                    (E) autonomic nervous system dysregulation;
                    (F) cumulative mild traumatic brain injury;
                    (G) neuroinflammation and glial activation; and
                    (H) any other issue determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            (5) To monitor sensory decline (including with regards to 
        vision, hearing, and vestibular function) and stress-related 
        impairments among such veterans and members.
            (6) To support continuity of such care by integrating 
        mobile and longitudinal diagnostic tools.
    (c) Reports.--The Task Force shall issue annual reports to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and on Armed Services of the Senate and 
House of Representatives. Each such report shall include the following 
elements:
            (1) Details of research initiatives, coordination outcomes, 
        and clinical advancements of the Task Force.
            (2) Recommendations of the Task Force regarding--
                    (A) how claims processors of the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs should evaluate evidence that links 
                such conditions to active military, naval, air, or 
                space service; and
                    (B) best practices regarding the evaluation of 
                neurological injuries in examinations for benefits 
                under chapters 11 or 15 of title 38, United States 
                Code.
    (d) Sunset.--The Task Force shall terminate on September 30, 2029.
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