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H.R. 7976

U.S. House•In House Committee

Summary

H.R. 7976, the Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act, was introduced in the House on Mar 18, 2026 by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D) with 17 co-sponsors. It was referred to Subcommittee on Health, and last saw action on Apr 9, 2026: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Record

Text

H.R. 7976 has 17 co-sponsors.

hb7976/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 7976 IH: Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-03-18
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7976  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   March 18, 2026   Mr. Carbajal  (for himself and  Mr. Bacon ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs    A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the retroactive payment of benefits for veterans with covered mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act  .
2.
Department of Veterans Affairs retroactive benefits payments for veterans with covered health conditions based on military sexual trauma
(a)
In general
Subchapter II of  chapter 51  of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
5114.
Claims involving military sexual trauma: retroactive benefits payments
(a)
In general
If the Secretary approves a claim for compensation for a covered health condition based on military sexual trauma experienced by a veteran during active military, naval, or air service, notwithstanding sections 5110 and 5111 of this title—
(1)
the effective date of the award of the claim shall be the date of the day after the date on which the veteran is discharged from such service; and
(2)
payment of monetary benefits based on such award shall be made beginning on such date and shall be payable retroactively.
(b)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term  military sexual trauma  has the meaning given such term in section 1166(c)(2) of this title.
(2)
The term  covered health condition  means—
(A)
a covered mental health condition, as such term is defined in section 1166(c)(1) of this title; or
(B)
any physical injury or disease resulting in disability that was incurred as a result of, or aggravated by, military sexual trauma.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendments
The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5113 the following new item:
5114. Claims involving military sexual trauma: retroactive benefits payments.
  .

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2026-03-18
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the retroactive payment of benefits for veterans with covered mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma, and for other purposes.

Sponsors

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D) sponsors H.R. 7976, and 17 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 7976 went before 2 committees: Health Subcommittee and Veterans' Affairs.

Health Subcommittee
Health Subcommittee
Referred to · Apr 9, 2026 · 143 Bills
Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Referred To · Mar 18, 2026 · 285 Bills

Actions

H.R. 7976 has taken 3 actions since Mar 18, 2026, the latest on Apr 9, 2026.

ChamberAction
Apr 9, 2026
House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.Health Subcommittee
Mar 18, 2026
House
Introduced in House
Mar 18, 2026
House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.Veterans' Affairs Committee

Votes

H.R. 7976 has not gone to a roll call.

Titles

H.R. 7976 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.

  • Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act — Display Title
  • Moral Injury Recognition and Restitution Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the retroactive payment of benefits for veterans with covered mental health conditions based on military sexual trauma, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 7976 under Armed Forces and National Security, one of its 31 policy areas.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 7976’s is Armed Forces and National Security.

hr7976/policy-areas.txt
Armed Forces and National SecurityAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 7976, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CARBAJAL:H.R. 7976.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:The constitutional authority of Congress to enact thislegislation is provided by Article I, section 8 of the UnitedStates Constitution which provides Congress with the power tolay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises in orderto provide for the general Welfare of the United States.[Page H2597]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com