VA would fund two research grant programs on non-drug treatments for chronic mild brain injury

What does this do?

The bill would create two three-year research grant programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to test non-drug treatments for chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), meaning a mild brain injury with symptoms lasting at least six months. The first program funds controlled trials measuring mental health, suicide risk, and results about six months after treatment ends. The second program funds nine smaller grants each year and directs the VA to try to hire an independent organization to manage the grants, study results, and report to Congress.

Who does it affect?

Veterans with long-lasting mild brain injuries could join studies or receive experimental treatments. Nonprofits, universities, and outside health care providers could compete for the grants, and the VA would take on new administrative work.

Why does it matter?

Grant recipients would have to report on spending and on serious side effects, including self-harm, giving Congress information on whether these treatments work. The VA could not require changes to a study's design except to protect patient safety or follow human-subject research laws, and it could cut off a grant if rules are broken. The bill also moves a date in the VA home loan fee schedule from June 9, 2034 to July 14, 2034.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $10M per year per program
• Fiscal years 2026 through 2028
• Funds must still be provided