BEACON Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
In Committee
Summary
Creates VA grant programs to develop and test neurorehabilitation treatments for veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It launches two coordinated grant streams to support clinical trials, independent research, clinician training, and community outreach aimed at improving mental health and long-term recovery for veterans.
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- Veterans: Veterans with chronic mTBI gain federally funded development and testing of new non‑pharmacological treatments, plus outreach and clinician training to expand access and address mental health and suicidality.
- Researchers and nonprofits: Academic institutions and nonprofit organizations can receive grants to run pilot projects and randomized controlled trials, with innovation grants capped at $5.0 million per award and third‑party grants offered at up to $625k or $1.5 million each.
- Clinicians and families: The programs fund clinician training and family outreach to increase awareness, delivery, and uptake of innovative mTBI therapies.
- VA and policymakers: An independent third‑party body will administer studies, produce evidence on best practices, and report to Congress to guide VA standards of care.
*Authorizes up to $60.0 million in appropriations for FY2026–FY2028 to fund these VA grant programs.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New VA TBI research grants
If enacted, VA would run two time-limited grant programs to study and expand neurorehabilitation treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans. The TBI Innovation Grant Program would fund trials, clinician training, outreach, and non-drug therapies, with grants capped at $5,000,000 per recipient and $30 million authorized for FY2026–2028; VA must issue regulations within 180 days and the program would end three years after enactment. The independent research program would fund up to four exploratory grants (each up to $625,000, at least three to nonprofits) and up to five collaborative grants (each up to $1,500,000) per year; $10 million would be authorized for each of FY2026–2028 and an independent third party must run studies and report to Congress within two years of program start and annually thereafter.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Cosponsors
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large]
MP • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]
TX • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 3/30/2026
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]
CO • R
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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