H.R. 8115

119 HR 8115 IH: Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-03-26
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 EN
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 I
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session
 H. R. 8115
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 March 26, 2026
  Mrs. Miller-Meeks  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Veterans' Affairs , and in addition to the   Committee on Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
 A BILL
To modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026  .
2.
Modification of Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative
Section 305 of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 ( 38 U.S.C. 1712A  note;  Public Law 116–171 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking  and such other mental health conditions  and inserting  repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and such other brain and mental health conditions ;
(2)
in subsection (d)(4), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(E)
Data-sharing partnership
(i)
In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the  Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026 , the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall establish a data-sharing partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
(ii)
Storage
The partnership established under clause (i) shall be stored in the open platform made available under this paragraph.
(iii)
Data
The data supplied by the Secretary of Defense shall include all relevant data of the Department of Defense, collected through—
(I)
the Armed Forces;
(II)
the United States Special Operations Command; and
(III)
the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium maintained by the Defense Health Agency.
(iv)
Report
Every two years during the period beginning on the date of the establishment of the partnership under this subparagraph and ending on the day when the partnership terminates, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report regarding the partnership. Each such report shall include, with respect to the period of two years preceding the date of such report, the following elements:
(I)
A description of any new therapy or treatment protocol developed using data shared through the partnership.
(II)
The evaluation of the Secretary of the partnership.
(III)
Recommendations of the Secretary regarding the partnership.
 ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new subsections:
(f)
Repetitive low-level blast exposure research
In carrying out the initiative under subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct the following research:
(1)
A big-data assessment of the clinical and non-clinical interventions that are illustrating positive outcomes for patients within the health system of the Veterans Health Administration with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries, including a categorization of military occupational specialties, and units, known to experience higher levels of low-level repetitive blast injuries.
(2)
Not fewer than two large-scale implementation studies of research-proven interventions within such health system for patients with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries, including a categorization of military occupational specialties, and units, known to experience higher levels of low-level repetitive blast injuries.
(3)
A translational research study on the use of growth hormone replacement therapy on the improvement of cognitive function, quality of life, brain structure, and other negative symptoms on patients within such health system with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries.
(4)
Not fewer than four large-scale quality improvement studies on improving the diagnosis and care of veteran patients with likely low-level repetitive blast injuries.
(g)
Assistance and report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of the  Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026 , the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall—
(1)
work in tandem with the initiative under subsection (a) on validation of brain and mental health biomarkers among veterans; and
(2)
not less frequently than once every two years, submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the work completed under paragraph (1).
(h)
Assessment
(1)
In general
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct an assessment of all translational research studies in progress and planned under the initiative under subsection (a), including research under subsection (f).
(2)
Report
Not later than 60 days after completion of the assessment conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the assessment.
(i)
Reports
(1)
In general
Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the initiative under subsection (a).
(2)
Recommendations
Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for immediate administrative and legislative action to improve the initiative under subsection (a).
(j)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 to carry out the initiative under subsection (a) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
 .