H.R. 9413

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9413 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9413

To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Military Family 
Limb Loss and Limb Difference Support Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 23, 2026

Ms. Meng (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Military Family 
Limb Loss and Limb Difference Support Program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Military Family Limb Loss Support 
Act''.

SEC. 2. MILITARY FAMILY LIMB LOSS AND LIMB DIFFERENCE SUPPORT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the Secretary of 
Defense shall establish a program, to be known as the ``Military Family 
Limb Loss and Limb Difference Support Program'' (in this section 
referred to as the ``Program''), to augment the holistic rehabilitative 
care for covered beneficiaries with limb loss or limb dysfunction 
through peer mentoring, education, and community outreach.
(b) Activities.--The Program shall include--
(1) peer mentorship and family support services;
(2) education related to limb loss care and services;
(3) community reintegration supports;
(4) coordination of nonclinical resources;
(5) outreach and awareness activities; and
(6) such other activities as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
(c) Partnerships.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may 
enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with one or more 
organizations that have demonstrated experience in carrying out the 
activities described in subsection (b) in virtual or in-person settings 
to support individuals with limb loss or limb difference, including 
individuals belonging to pediatric, military, or veteran populations.
(d) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a plan 
for implementing the Program that--
(1) describes the process for selecting and entering into 
cooperative agreements or contracts with organizations under 
subsection (c);
(2) estimates the costs and staffing needs of implementing 
the Program;
(3) assesses the extent to which existing resources and 
programs of the Department of Defense can support the Program;
(4) includes performance metrics the Secretary will use to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the Program; and
(5) requires integration of the Program with research 
efforts of the military health system to improve health care 
quality, access and outcomes for members of the Armed Forces 
and their families.
(e) Reports Required.--Not later than one year after the date on 
which the Program is implemented, and annually for three years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that 
includes, for the year preceding submission of the report--
(1) the number and demographic characteristics of covered 
beneficiaries served by the Program;
(2) a description of services provided and partnerships 
established under the Program;
(3) an assessment of gaps in services or geographic 
coverage of the Program; and
(4) recommendations for legislative or administrative 
action to improve support for military families affected by 
limb loss or limb difference.
(f) Covered Beneficiary Defined.--In this section, the term 
``covered beneficiary'' means--
(1) an individual who has experienced limb loss or limb 
difference; and
(2) is--
(A) a dependent of a member or retired member of 
the Armed Forces; or
(B) otherwise eligible for health care under 
chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
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