Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026
Rep. Miller-Meeks Introduces Bill to Expand VA Research on Brain Injuries and Blast Exposure
This bill was recently introduced in the House and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is actively moving forward. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill expands the VA's Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative to cover brain injuries from repeated blast exposure and dementia, in addition to existing mental health conditions. This broadens the scope of research that the VA conducts on veteran brain health.
From policy text
“by striking ``and such other mental health conditions'' and inserting ``repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and such other brain and mental health conditions''”
View in full text - Within one year of enactment, the VA and the Department of Defense must create a formal data-sharing partnership. Defense Department data would include information from the Armed Forces, Special Operations Command, and the Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium.
- The VA must conduct multiple new research efforts on blast injuries, including big-data assessments, large-scale studies, and a specific study on whether growth hormone replacement therapy improves cognitive function and quality of life for veterans with low-level repetitive blast injuries.
- The bill authorizes $5 million per year from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to fund this initiative and requires the VA to contract with the National Academies of Sciences to help validate brain health biomarkers.
From policy text
“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.”
View in full text - Regular oversight is built in through biennial reports to Congress on the data-sharing partnership, the overall initiative, and the biomarker validation work done with the National Academies.
From policy text
“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).”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
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.
Introduced in House
Related News
4 articles
New Study on Vets: Powerful Correlation Between Brain Injuries, Suicide
The Precision Brain Health Research Act seeks to identify and research critical brain health issues among veterans with repetitive low-level blast exposures. The effort would be a major advance in focusing on the long-term effects of brain injuries induced by low-level blast exposure.
VA Study of Brain Injuries and Mental Health Would Be Ordered Up by Senate Bill
The bill would direct the VA to partner with the National Academies of Sciences for a 10-year study on repetitive low-level blast injuries. It mandates a data-sharing partnership with the Pentagon and research into whether growth hormone therapy improves cognitive function for affected veterans.
Making the Invisible Visible; Foundation Takes Aim at Blast Wave Brain Injuries
Sen. Moran is leading an effort to pass the Precision Brain Health Research Act, which focuses on researching critical brain health issues among veterans suffering from repetitive low-level blast exposures sustained during military service.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
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