To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7745 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7745

 To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the
  health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 2, 2026

Mr. Arrington (for himself, Mr. McDowell, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Rose, Mr. Van
Epps, and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred
                   to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the
  health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO WELLNESS CHECKS FOR HEALTH AND
              WELFARE OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Wellness Checks.--
            (1) Wellness checks required.--The Secretary of Defense
        shall issue such regulations, policies, and procedures as may
        be necessary to require that, whenever appropriate following a
        member of the Armed Forces sustaining any significant injury or
        illness or being on sick call, a wellness check is conducted to
        account for the health and welfare of such member.
            (2) Methods of contact.--In conducting a wellness check for
        a member of the Armed Forces pursuant to paragraph (1), if the
        member does not respond to such check conducted via an
        electronic or telephone communication method, the individual
        conducting the check shall progress to an in-person method of
        contact.
            (3) Result of failure to locate.--If, as a result of a
        wellness check conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) for a member
        of the Armed Forces, the individual conducting such check is
        unable to locate such member, the individual shall refer to the
        applicable regulations, policies, and procedures of the
        Department of Defense regarding the determination and reporting
        of such member as missing, absent unknown, absent without
        leave, or duty status-whereabouts unknown.
    (b) Implementation by Unit Commanders.--In carrying out subsection
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each unit commander
coordinates with the judge advocates assigned or attached to, or
performing duty with, the unit under the command of such commander for
assistance in the implementation of any regulation, policy, or
procedure required under subsection (a) with respect to such unit.
    (c) Additional Actions by Unit Commanders.--On a routine basis,
each unit commander shall--
            (1) review the requirements contained in the document
        titled ``Commander's Critical Information Requirements'', dated
        January 2020, or such successor document, to ensure such
        requirements--
                    (A) have been issued or updated during the three-
                year period preceding any such review;
                    (B) reflect such medical issues or safety incidents
                of members of the Armed Forces that the commander deems
                sufficiently significant; and
                    (C) have been distributed to the unit under the
                command of such commander; and
            (2) host confidential wellness meetings with subordinate
        commanders at which such commanders may discuss with one or
        more medical officers assigned to such unit any significant
        injuries or illnesses affecting members of the Armed Forces
        serving in or with such unit.
    (d) Training Courses.--Each Secretary concerned, and the Secretary
of Defense with respect to civilian personnel of the Department of
Defense, shall develop and implement training courses to ensure each
member of an Armed Force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary (or
each civilian employee of the Department of Defense, respectively) is
aware of the importance of accountability with respect to health and
welfare and of the significant negative outcomes that may occur when
accountability procedures fail. Such courses shall be offered at
leadership and supervisor trainings and shall include content relating
to the conduct of wellness checks in accordance with subsection (a) and
other related actions.
    (e) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term
``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given such term in section
101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
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