Moran, Ernst introduce bipartisan bill authorizing joint U.S.-Israel PTSD research

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Oct. 21 introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out a grant program aimed at increasing research cooperation on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between the United States and Israel.

“Through research and science, the global medical community is starting to better understand and treat PTSD, which often affects everyday people who we consider our friends and neighbors, such as veterans, law enforcement officers and victims of violence,” said Sen. Moran, adding that the legislation could help “grow our understanding of this mental health condition and to provide treatment and hope for those who suffer from this disorder.”

Sen. Moran sponsored the United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act, S. 4838, with original cosponsors Sen. Ernst and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to task DOD, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. State Department, to award grants to eligible U.S. academic institutions or nonprofit entities to conduct work in Israel under a joint research agreement, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“Too many veterans continue to suffer from PTSD and we need to be learning from the best researchers around the world,” said Sen. Ernst. “Given the decades of terrorist attacks Israel has undergone, they unfortunately have a great deal of experience in traumatic stress and resilience. This bipartisan bill will help U.S. service members have access to Israel’s cutting edge PTSD treatment, therapy, and ongoing research.”

Specifically, the bill would permit the DOD to create partnerships through the Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program with American and Israeli institutions aimed at advancing PTSD research, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Moran’s office.

The bill is the companion measure to the same-named H.R. 5605, introduced in January by U.S. Reps. Michael Waltz (R-FL) and Elaine Luria (D-VA). The U.S. House of Representatives’ version currently has 104 cosponsors. S. 4838 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, while the House version remains under review by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.