Jerry Moran - Ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Jerry Moran - Ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Jerry Moran from Kansas and Angus King from Maine have introduced the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2024. This legislation aims to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its research partners to conduct a thorough study on how repetitive low-level blast injuries affect veterans' mental health.
The new bill expands upon the Precision Brain Health Initiative, part of the Commander John Scott Hannon Mental Health Care Improvement Act. It mandates that the VA establish a ten-year research plan to assess these injuries' effects, with periodic benchmarks reported to Congress. The goal is to facilitate further legislative action for veterans dealing with such exposures.
Senator Moran highlighted recent studies linking low-level blasts experienced during training and combat to increased rates of brain conditions, mental health issues, and suicides among servicemembers. "This legislation will help us start to better understand why and how blast exposures are impacting servicemembers and veterans," he stated. He emphasized the importance of incorporating findings into clinical care swiftly so that veterans receive proper diagnoses and treatment plans.
Senator King noted that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can result from both large blasts in small amounts or smaller blasts accumulated over time. "We have a duty to expand our understanding of the impact these blasts have on mental health," he said, stressing the need for comprehensive care for military personnel affected by TBIs.
The full text of the bill is available online for those interested in further details.
Alerts Sign-up