COMBAT Care Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 10541 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10541

To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish joint education and training programs on military trauma care and research with military forces of foreign countries.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mr. Crow (for himself and Mr. Crank) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

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A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish joint education and training programs on military trauma care and research with military forces of foreign countries.

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 ``Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma Care Act'' or the ``COMBAT Care Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS ON MILITARY TRAUMA CARE AND RESEARCH BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

(a) Partnerships.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish a joint education and training program on military trauma care and research with appropriate personnel of the military forces of one or more foreign countries. (b) Elements.--The Secretary may include in each joint education and training program on military trauma care and research under subsection (a) the following: (1) The sharing of relevant lessons learned in combat casualty care derived from prior conflicts. (2) The conduct of joint conferences, symposia, and professional exchange programs involving military medical professionals from the United States and the foreign countries participating in the program. (3) Collaboration through structured knowledge exchanges on matters relating to health policy, health administration, and medical logistics, including with respect to medical supplies and equipment. (4) The conduct of joint research and development initiatives addressing the health effects of new and emerging weapons and methods of warfare. (5) Capacity-building programs to support the development, sustainment, and modernization of military trauma care systems and programs. (6) Coordination, through the Joint Trauma System of the Defense Health Agency, of trauma care doctrine, data collection, performance improvement, and clinical best practices with the Armed Forces of the United States and the military medical services of the foreign countries participating in the program. (7) The provision of training to the military forces of such foreign countries with respect to-- (A) military trauma care; (B) combat wound infection; (C) post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention relating to the treatment of military trauma care; and (D) care for injuries and diseases that are not incurred in combat. (c) Use of Authorities.--In carrying out the joint education and training program on military trauma care and research under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may use the authorities under chapter 16 of title 10, United States Code, and other applicable statutory authorities available to the Secretary. <all>