Specialist Joey Lenz Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1014
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-24T08:06:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Specialist Joey Lenz Act of 2025 aims to improve the health monitoring of U.S. Armed Forces members by requiring the inclusion of specific medical tests in their routine health checkups, starting in 2026. This ensures early detection of potential health issues through standardized assessments.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Annual Tests: Periodic health assessments for service members must include:
- A sports physical (a basic exam to check fitness for physical activity).
- An electrocardiogram (ECG), a test to evaluate heart electrical activity.
- Blood work consisting of:
- A comprehensive metabolic panel (checks kidney, liver function, blood sugar, and electrolytes) and complete blood count (measures various blood cells to detect infections, anemia, or other issues).
- If deemed necessary by medical professionals: A thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test (to assess thyroid function) and a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test (to detect heart strain or failure).
- Required Legal Tests: Assessments must incorporate any evaluations mandated by existing laws, such as those in sections 704 and 707 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (which address periodic health evaluations and specific testing for service members).
- Secretary's Discretion: The Secretary of Defense may add any other tests or evaluations considered appropriate.
The bill amends Chapter 55 of Title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section (1074p) to enforce these requirements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new, dedicated section (1074p) to Title 10, United States Code, explicitly mandating these tests as part of periodic health assessments, which were previously not uniformly required.
- It builds on but expands existing requirements from prior laws (e.g., the 2020 NDAA), shifting from optional or selective testing to a standardized annual protocol for all service members.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Defense (DoD) and military health systems will need to update protocols, train providers, and allocate resources for these additional tests, potentially increasing administrative and medical costs but improving preventive care efficiency.
- On Citizens (Service Members): Active-duty personnel may benefit from more thorough health screenings, leading to earlier identification and treatment of conditions like heart issues, metabolic disorders, or thyroid problems, which could reduce long-term health risks and improve readiness.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic military health policy focused on U.S. forces.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of the Armed Forces: Primary beneficiaries, receiving enhanced routine health monitoring.
- Secretary of Defense and DoD Health Officials: Responsible for implementation, oversight, and any additional test determinations.
- Military Healthcare Providers: Tasked with conducting the required tests and integrating them into existing assessment processes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with federal health mandates for the military by codifying specific tests, potentially reducing liability for undetected health issues; no conflicts with existing laws noted.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 to regulate the armed forces and provide for their welfare; no apparent free speech, privacy, or due process concerns, as assessments are routine and voluntary in nature for service members.
- Political: Named after Specialist Joey Lenz (implying a tribute to a service member, possibly linked to a health-related incident), it reflects bipartisan interest in military wellness but may spark debates on resource allocation amid defense budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Specialist Joey Lenz Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)