Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4777 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4777

  To establish the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 11, 2026

   Mr. Banks introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To establish the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

    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, through 
the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint 
Executive Committee under section 320 of title 38, United States Code--
            (1) establish the Blast Overpressure Task Force of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as 
        the ``Task Force''); and
            (2) appoint the members of the Task Force.
    (b) Membership.--Each member of the Task Force appointed under 
subsection (a)(2) shall be a member of the Health Executive Committee 
under section 320(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, who, at the 
time of appointment, is involved in research regarding the mitigation 
and treatment of blast overpressure or blast exposure.
    (c) 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 of Veterans Affairs 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 of Veterans Affairs.
            (5) To monitor sensory decline (including with respect to 
        vision, hearing, and vestibular function) and stress-related 
        impairments among such veterans and members.
            (6) To support continuity of such health care by 
        integrating mobile and longitudinal diagnostic tools.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
        establishment of the Task Force under subsection (a), and not 
        less frequently than annually thereafter, the Task Force shall 
        submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
        Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the activities of the Task Force.
            (2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Details of research initiatives, coordination 
                outcomes, and clinical advancements of the Task Force.
                    (B) Recommendations of the Task Force regarding--
                            (i) how claims processors of the Department 
                        of Veterans Affairs should evaluate evidence 
                        that links conditions researched by the Task 
                        Force to active military, naval, air, or space 
                        service (as defined in section 101 of title 38, 
                        United States Code); and
                            (ii) best practices regarding the 
                        evaluation of neurological injuries in 
                        examinations for benefits under chapter 11 or 
                        15 of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Sunset.--The Task Force shall terminate on September 30, 2029.
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