119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 6823
H.R. 6823 directs the Department of Defense to establish a four-year pilot program called the "Warfighter Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostics Project" to develop and test new diagnostic tools for detecting traumatic brain injuries in military members, particularly those deployed in combat zones. The program will assess whether new diagnostic technologies can distinguish between mild and severe brain injuries, work alongside existing diagnostic methods, and ultimately improve military readiness and long-term health outcomes. The Department can award grants to private companies and research entities that develop these diagnostic technologies, with preference given to organizations with a track record in the field and those working with the defense industrial base. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 through 2029 for the program, which will terminate on September 30, 2029, and requires the Secretary of Defense to report findings to Congress within 90 days of the program's end to recommend whether the military should adopt these new diagnostic tools.