S. 4777

119 S4777 IS: Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-06-11
 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.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4777  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act  .
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.