Bill · H.R. 6993· House(119-HR-6993)

BEACON Act of 2026

Age: 79 years

Michigan

Introduced: 1/9/2026
Last activity: 10/1/2026 — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 735.
Sponsored by: Jack Bergman
Cosponsors: - 7 - 6

Armed Forces and National Security

Introduced
On Calendar

What this bill would do

This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to run grant programs for researching and treating chronic mild traumatic brain injury in veterans. It sets up the TBI Innovation Grant Program to award grants to eligible entities for developing and evaluating neurorehabilitation treatments. It also establishes a research grant program for independent third-party research studies and treatments. Additionally, the bill adjusts certain housing loan fees by changing specific dates in the loan fee table. Finally, it requires regular reports to Congress on the progress and findings of these grant programs.

Yes· 3 of 8

Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+9
The bill provides direct targeted research and treatment opportunities for veterans with TBI.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+8
The bill establishes significant grant programs specifically for neurorehabilitation and TBI treatment for veterans.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+8
The bill expands therapeutic research opportunities as a specific benefit for veterans suffering from TBI.

The opposite

No question was scored the opposite.

How the text last changed

Reported in House (10/1/2026), compared with Introduced in House. Each change is on the Text tab.

The newer version of the bill changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs administers grant programs for treating chronic mild traumatic brain injury in veterans, modifies funding amounts and eligible organizations, and extends a housing loan fee date. It specifies that the TBI Innovation Grant Program is a three-year program and alters authorization of appropriations from from $30,000,000 to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028. It also adds new reporting requirements, oversight tools, and detailed application contents for grant recipients, while adjusting definitions and adding a new section that changes a date in a loan fee table from June 9, 2034'' to July 14, 2034''.

Reported in House(10/1/2026)

Text | XML | PDF

A committee approved it and sent it to the floor

What changed from Introduced in House

Each change

Section 2 changes the grant program from a general program to a three-year program named the ``TBI Innovation Grant Program'', and specifies that it must supplement and not supplant other Department clinical care and research relating to mild traumatic brain injury.
Section 2 updates the list of eligible entities to include specific nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, non-Department health care providers with clinical trial capabilities, and partnerships or consortiums of these entities, while removing previous general provisions.
Section 2 adds a requirement to measure durability of outcomes at approximately six months following treatment completion, adds clinician training and outreach requirements including Department resource information, and adds coordination with Veterans Health Administration facilities for referrals and continuity of care.
Section 2 changes the limitation on grant amounts so that the Secretary may not award an eligible entity an amount that exceeds $5,000,000 for any fiscal year, replacing the previous wording of per fiscal year.
Section 2 adds detailed application requirements regarding proposed activities, expected outcomes, coordination plans, entity budgets with administrative or overhead costs, and assurances of compliance with Federal laws regarding human subjects and patient safety.
Section 2 updates periodic reporting requirements for grant recipients to include annual reports during the grant period and a report not later than 180 days after the end of the grant period, including detailed expenditures, adverse events, and coordination actions.
Section 2 adds oversight and enforcement authority allowing the Secretary to suspend, modify, or terminate grants for noncompliance with reporting requirements or other terms and conditions.
Section 2 changes the authorization of appropriations for Section 2 from $30,000,000 to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028, and removes the provision that funds remain available until expended.
Section 3 updates eligible entities and application requirements for the independent research grant program, including detailed requirements for budgets, administrative costs, and compliance assurances.
Section 3 adds specific grant categories and limits for exploratory or pilot research projects to not more than $625,000 each, and collaborative or multidisciplinary initiatives to not more than $1,500,000 each.
Section 3 updates the requirement for an independent organization agreement, specifying that the Secretary shall seek an independent organization with expertise in randomized controlled trials and research integrity to administer the program, analyze data, and report findings to Congress and the Secretary.
Section 3 changes the authorization of appropriations for Section 3 to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 and adds a termination date of three years after enactment.
Section 4 modifies requirements for reports to Congress regarding the grant programs under sections 2 and 3, specifying timelines and required contents including findings, recommendations, and survey results.
Section 5 is added to modify the loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, by striking June 9, 2034'' and inserting July 14, 2034''.
Section 6 (formerly Section 4) updates definitions, removing the definitions for TBI'' and treatment'', adding a specific definition for chronic mild traumatic brain injury and mTBI'', and adding a detailed definition for nonprofit organization''.