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119-hr-6444119th CongressWALLET

Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act

Sponsored By: Representative Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]

In Committee

Summary

Improve care and research for veterans and service members exposed to blast overpressure. This bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a Blast Overpressure Task Force through the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee within 180 days of enactment.

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  • Veterans and service members: Would aim to improve health care and benefits for people diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other symptoms linked to blast overpressure.
  • Research and clinical priorities: Would align VA and DoD research agendas and acquisition strategies and prioritize translational research on sleep therapy, gut health, mobile diagnostics, vestibular and balance problems, autonomic dysfunction, cumulative mild traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and glial activation.
  • Diagnostics and monitoring: Would establish physiological and cognitive performance baselines, monitor vision, hearing, and vestibular decline, and support mobile and longitudinal diagnostic tools to maintain continuity of care.
  • Benefits exams and claims processing: Would produce annual reports to the congressional Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services committees with recommendations on evaluating evidence that links these conditions to active service and on best practices for neurological injury evaluations in benefits exams under chapters 11 or 15 of title 38.
  • Duration: The Task Force would terminate on September 30, 2029.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More blast-related care for veterans

If enacted, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would create a Blast Overpressure Task Force within 180 days. The task force would operate through September 30, 2029, and work through the VA-DoD Joint Executive Committee. It would coordinate VA and DoD research and acquisition plans and set physiological and cognitive baselines for veterans and service members exposed to blast overpressure. The task force would prioritize translational research on sleep therapy, blast-related gut health, mobile diagnostics, vestibular and balance problems, autonomic dysregulation, repeated mild traumatic brain injury, and neuroinflammation. It would monitor vision, hearing, vestibular function, and stress-related impairments and support continuity of care using mobile and long-term diagnostic tools. The task force would send annual reports to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services committees with recommendations on how VA claims processors should link conditions to service and on best practices for neurological exams under chapters 11 and 15.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/16/2025

  • Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

  • Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

  • Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

    MN • R

    Sponsored 3/4/2026

  • Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]

    AS • R

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

  • Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

  • Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

  • Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 8/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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