CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

S.Amdt. 6149

S.Amdt. 6149 · Senate amendment

A Democratic amendment with no cosponsors

Changes S. 4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Offered

Offered, and not voted on yet. Most amendments never get a vote: the Senate takes up the bill and moves on without them.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

SA 6149, submitted by Mr. Wyden, aims to add a new section to title 10, United States Code, regarding medical training for members of the armed forces. The purpose is to replace live animal-based training methods with human-based methods when training for the treatment of combat trauma injuries.

Key Changes and Requirements

  • Deadlines for Implementation: The Secretary of Defense must develop, test, and validate human-based training methods by October 1, 2026. By October 1, 2028, the Secretary must use only human-based methods and may not use animals for this training.

  • Human-Based Methods: These are defined as systems and devices that do not use animals, such as:

    • Simulators
    • Partial task trainers
    • Moulage
    • Simulated combat environments
    • Human cadavers
    • Rotations in military and civilian trauma centers

  • Combat Trauma Injuries: This refers to severe injuries likely to occur in combat, including airway compromises, hemorrhage, tension pneumothorax, amputation from blast injury, and other injuries.

Oversight and Exceptions

  • Exemptions: The Secretary can exempt specific commands or training methods if human-based methods are not an educationally superior or equivalent substitute. These exemptions last no more than one year but can be renewed.

  • Reporting: The Secretary must provide an annual report to congressional defense committees by October 1. Reports starting October 1, 2028, must include justifications for any active exemptions.