Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13]
In Committee
Summary
Coordinate VA and DoD research and care for veterans and service members exposed to blast overpressure. This bill would create a Blast Overpressure Task Force to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of blast‑related brain, sensory, and stress injuries.
Show full summary
- Veterans and service members: Would push the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve health care and benefits for people diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, post‑traumatic stress disorder, or other symptoms tied to blast exposure. It would support continuity of care with mobile and longitudinal diagnostic tools.
- Research and clinical priorities: Would align VA and Department of Defense research agendas and acquisition strategies and prioritize translational work on sleep therapy, blast‑related gut health, mobile diagnostics, vestibular dysfunction and balance, autonomic nervous system dysregulation, cumulative mild traumatic brain injury, and neuroinflammation and glial activation.
- Claims processors and examiners: Would produce annual reports with recommendations on how VA claims processors should evaluate evidence linking conditions to active military service and on best practices for neurological exams for benefits under chapters 11 or 15 of title 38.
- Timeframe and oversight: Would be formed through the VA‑DoD Joint Executive Committee, issue annual reports to congressional committees, and terminate on September 30, 2029.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Task force for blast-exposed veterans
If enacted, this bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a Blast Overpressure Task Force. The Task Force would be formed through the Department of Veterans Affairs–Department of Defense joint committee not later than 180 days after enactment. It would study and coordinate research, care, and benefits for veterans and service members with blast-related brain, stress, or sensory injuries. The Task Force would set physiological and cognitive baselines, monitor vision, hearing, balance, and stress-related impairments, and prioritize translational research such as sleep therapy, gut health, mobile diagnostics, balance disorders, autonomic dysfunction, repeated mild brain injury, and brain inflammation. It would send annual reports to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services committees and would terminate on September 30, 2029.
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
Tiffany
WI • R
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Van Duyne
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
Rose
TN • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
AS • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
McBride
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
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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