H.R. 6444 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a task force to coordinate research and improve the treatment and monitoring of veterans and service members with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other symptoms from exposure to detonation or firing of explosives or heavy weapons systems. The task force would be required to report annually to the Congress through 2029.
Under the bill, the task force would coordinate activities of existing personnel and ongoing research programs within VA and DoD. CBO anticipates that the task forces’ activities would not significantly affect the workload at either department. Using information on the costs of similar interagency coordination efforts and reporting requirements, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6444 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2026‑2031 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Noah Callahan. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
