General Bergman described the Beacon Act, a discussion draft titled the Veterans TBI Breakthrough Exploration of Adaptive Care Opportunities, to authorize VA grants for randomized controlled trials and evaluation of neurorehabilitative therapies for chronic mild TBI.

Witnesses from Mission Roll Call and Wounded Warrior Project urged better access to specialized TBI care and supported testing promising therapies with publication of results. They described veterans' demand for earlier intervention and evidence to support broader access.

The American Psychological Association cautioned that creating a separate grant pathway could "weaken longstanding VA leadership in traumatic brain injury research and treatment by creating a parallel research pathway outside existing rigorous VA processes." VA officials and APA witnesses asked for mechanisms to ensure scientific rigor, coordination with VA research centers and safeguards that do not defund existing VA research assets like the National Center for PTSD.

Members asked how new funding could accelerate access without undermining VA's evidence-driven processes. General Bergman and witnesses said the bill should include strong guardrails, peer-review-like standards, outcome reporting and coordination with VA polytrauma and TBI centers.

The subcommittee did not vote; members directed staff to continue drafting to ensure research coordination and avoid erosion of VA research capacity.