Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act

This Act may be cited as the “Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act”.

(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.