Congressional efforts to expand hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) access for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD are advancing through multiple legislative channels in 2025.
Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ) reintroduced H.R. 72, the TBI and PTSD Treatment Act, on January 3, 2025, alongside co-sponsors Representative Elijah Crane (AZ) and Representative Paul Gosar (AZ). The bill was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Health on February 6, 2025.
Additionally, Congressman Greg Murphy (NC) championed H.R. 1336, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act, which successfully passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on May 6, 2025. This bipartisan legislation establishes a pilot program for HBOT treatment and garnered support from twelve co-sponsors across party lines.
Both bills target the veteran suicide epidemic, with over 17 veterans lost daily. HBOT accelerates brain healing by delivering elevated oxygen to damaged tissue, with studies showing significant PTSD symptom reduction within four weeks of treatment.
The legislation aims to remove VA bureaucratic barriers and provide veterans additional treatment options beyond traditional therapies, representing a critical step toward addressing the mental health crisis affecting America’s veterans.
TBI on the Hill 