U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King, both members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, have introduced the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2024. The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other research partners to conduct a comprehensive study on the mental health impacts of repetitive low-level blast injuries on veterans.

Building on the Precision Brain Health Initiative from the Commander John Scott Hannon Mental Health Care Improvement Act, the new legislation mandates that the VA develop a ten-year research plan to assess these injuries’ effects. It also requires regular progress reports to Congress to guide future legislation aimed at supporting veterans affected by repeated blast exposures.

“Recent studies have tied low-level blasts, which servicemembers are exposed to during training and in combat, to high rates of brain and mental health conditions, as well as suicides,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation will help us start to better understand why and how blast exposures are impacting servicemembers and veterans and make certain VA is able to quickly incorporate these findings into clinical care for our veterans to receive a diagnosis and a treatment plan. This legislation will help make certain veterans have the evidence-based health care and benefits they deserve, and I look forward to its passage.”