BEACON Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a new grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to find better ways to treat veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries. It focuses on brain rehabilitation, which helps the brain recover and function better after an injury, specifically for those dealing with long-term symptoms.
• The program would give up to $5 million per year to universities, nonprofits, and private healthcare providers to test new treatments. These projects will focus on care that puts the patient first and explores options that do not rely only on traditional drugs or medicine.
• A major goal of this research is to improve mental health and lower the risk of suicide among veterans. By finding better ways to treat brain injuries, the program aims to reduce depression and substance use issues that often affect those who have suffered head trauma during their military service.
• The plan would run for three years and includes $30 million for the main treatment grants plus another $10 million each year for independent research studies. The VA would be required to report back to Congress on which treatments work best so they can be used more widely in the future.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

Related Bills

No related bills have been identified yet.