Ro Khanna (D-CA)
To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish blast safety officer positions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill orders the Secretary of Defense to set up blast safety officer positions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force by September 30, 2026. These officers will be assigned to each special mission unit in these branches. Their job is to monitor and reduce blast and overpressure exposure for service members during live-fire or explosive exercises. They have the power to stop an exercise if safe exposure limits are passed. They will also brief members on health risks, oversee protective gear and sensors, investigate incidents, keep exposure logs, and coordinate with health care providers and range safety officers.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
By reducing harmful blast exposures during service, the bill helps prevent chronic health issues for future veterans.
- Scored +6
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
By monitoring, logging, and mitigating blast overpressure exposure, the bill helps protect the long-term health and wellbeing of military personnel.
- Scored +5
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill improves health monitoring and coordination with healthcare providers to address blast exposure risks for service members.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better Health Protection: Under Section 1(b)(1), blast safety officers monitor and lessen blast and overpressure exposure for service members during live-fire or explosive exercises. This is positive because these officers can stop an exercise if exposure goes over safe limits, keeping our service members physically safe.
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Health Education: Under Section 1(b)(2), these officers brief service members before exercises about the health risks of blast exposure and mitigation protocols like safe distances. This helps keep our people informed and prepared.
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Safety Gear Oversight: Under Section 1(b)(3), officers oversee the use of personal protective equipment and wearable sensors during exercises, which helps ensure our service members are properly protected on the job.
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Incident Response and Tracking: Under Section 1(b)(4) and (5), officers investigate blast overpressure incidents, report findings, coordinate with health care providers, and keep exposure logs. This ensures health risks are addressed and future safety can be improved.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions outlining negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — By reducing harmful blast exposures during service, the bill helps prevent chronic health issues for future veterans. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Many active-duty service members and recruits are young adults who will directly benefit from enhanced blast safety protocols.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — By monitoring, logging, and mitigating blast overpressure exposure, the bill helps protect the long-term health and wellbeing of military personnel.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill improves health monitoring and coordination with healthcare providers to address blast exposure risks for service members.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates keeping blast overpressure exposure logs and reporting findings.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill creates new blast safety officer positions within the Armed Forces.
- 9/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.