Veterans and Servicemembers PTSD Emerging Treatment Review Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9547
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T13:38:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation directs the Department of Defense to prepare and submit a report to Congress evaluating emerging investigational treatments for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among active-duty service members, reserve component members, National Guard members, veterans, and those transitioning to civilian life. The bill emphasizes the need to assess data from specific clinical trials involving psilocybin, a substance derived from mushrooms, while ensuring compliance with federal regulations.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines challenges with existing PTSD treatments, including links to chronic impairment, substance misuse, and suicide risk; notes the role of Arizona in supporting FDA-authorized clinical trials using whole-mushroom psilocybin in group therapy settings; references the Federal Right to Try Act, expanded access rules, and an April 2026 Executive Order on accelerating treatments for serious mental illness.
- Report Requirement: The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs must submit the report to the congressional defense committees within 180 days of enactment.
- Report Elements: Include a summary of safety, dosing, and adverse event data from the covered clinical trial (titled "An Open-Label, Phase 1 Study of the Safety Pharmacokinetic Profile, and Preliminary Efficacy, of Organic Whole Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms in Patients Suffering From PTSD"); assessments of implications for force health protection, medical readiness, and suicide prevention; legal and regulatory requirements for expanded access to investigational Schedule I substances (coordinated with the FDA and DEA); applicability of the Federal Right to Try pathway and the referenced Executive Order; considerations for continuity of care between military medical facilities and the Veterans Health Administration (covering eligibility, oversight, consent, monitoring, and reporting); and evaluations of financial, workforce, and infrastructure needs, plus a proposed timeline for pilot activities starting in fiscal year 2027.
- Coordination: The report must be developed in coordination with the Defense Health Agency and in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, the FDA Commissioner, and other relevant federal agencies.
- Form: The report is to be unclassified, with a possible classified annex if needed.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms such as "congressional defense committees" and the specific "covered clinical trial."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no direct amendments to existing statutes. It creates a new one-time reporting mandate focused on reviewing data from ongoing clinical research and exploring pathways for potential future access to investigational treatments under current federal authorities, such as the Federal Right to Try Act and expanded access provisions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires coordination across the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, and Drug Enforcement Administration, potentially influencing future policy on medical readiness, suicide prevention, and research into controlled substances for mental health conditions.
- Citizens: Could inform expanded treatment options for service members and veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD, affecting access to care during and after military service, though any actual implementation would depend on subsequent regulatory actions.
- International Relations: No direct impacts identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Active-duty service members, reserve and National Guard members, veterans, and transitioning service members with treatment-resistant PTSD.
- Department of Defense (including the Defense Health Agency) and Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration.
- Private-sector entities involved in clinical trials, such as those in Arizona.
- Congressional defense committees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation highlights the need to navigate federal controls on Schedule I substances (such as psilocybin) while referencing the Federal Right to Try Act and an Executive Order on mental health treatments, ensuring any potential expanded access complies with safety, security, and diversion-prevention rules. It underscores Congress's oversight role in military health policy without altering constitutional authorities or introducing new regulatory frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Veterans and Servicemembers PTSD Emerging Treatment Review Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-30 — PDF (8 pages)