H.R. 2719

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To provide for the awarding of the Purple Heart to certain veterans who experienced a traumatic brain injury, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · April 8, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Kennedy of New York · Committee: Committee on Armed Services

Table of contents

• H.R. 2719
  • SEC. 1. Short Title
  • SEC. 2. Awarding of Purple Heart to Certain Veterans Who Experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury

SEC. 1. Short Title

• This Act may be cited as the Staff Sergeant John D. Martek Purple Heart Restoration Act.

SEC. 2. Awarding of Purple Heart to Certain Veterans Who Experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury

• of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the following new section: Chapter 57; section 1129a
  • (a) In General
    • For purposes of the award of the Purple Heart, the Secretary concerned shall treat a veteran described in subsection (b) in the same manner as a member of the Armed Forces who is killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States.
  • (b) Veteran Described
    • A veteran described in this subsection is a veteran—
      • who experienced a traumatic brain injury while a member of the Armed Forces that is attributable to an act of an enemy of the United States that occurred on or after December 7, 1941; and
    • (2)
      • who has a service-connected disability attributable to such traumatic brain injury, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
      • with respect to whom there is a military record that demonstrates the occurrence of such traumatic brain injury.
  • (c) Award Process
    • Each Secretary concerned shall—
      • establish a process for persons to submit applications for the awarding of the Purple Heart under this section; and
      • award the Purple Heart to each person who submits an application that demonstrates the person is a veteran described in subsection (b), without regard to the date on which the veteran experienced the traumatic brain injury that is described in the application.
  • (d) Definitions
    • In this section, the terms and have the meaning given the terms in section 101 of title 38. service-connected veteran