November 10, 2025
Mrs. Dingell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To amend the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 to direct the Interagency Working Group on Toxic Exposure to conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Research on diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving in the Armed Forces
(a) Interagency Working Group on Toxic Exposure Research
(1) Authority to establish interagency task forces
Subsection (b) of section 501 of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–168) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
Establish Federal interagency task forces to conduct collaborative research activities.
(2) Reporting
Subsection (c) of such section is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
(3)
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act of 2025—
(A)
the findings of the members of the Working Group with respect to the collaborative research activities described in paragraph (2);
(B)
the strategic plan developed, by the Working Group under subsection (b); and
(C)
such recommendations as the Working Group may have for legislative or administrative action to improve collaborative research activities among the members of the Working Group.
(4)
Not less frequently than annually during the five-year period covered by the strategic plan developed under subsection (b)—
(A)
a summary of the collaborative research activities carried out by the members of the Working Group and the findings of the members with respect to such research activities;
(B)
a progress report on implementation of the strategic plan developed by the Working Group under subsection (b); and
(C)
such recommendations as the Working Group may have for legislative or administrative action to improve collaborative research activities among members of the Working Group.
(3) Research requirements
Such section is further amended—
(A)
by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
(B)
in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking under subsection (c)
and inserting under subsection (d)
; and
(C)
by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
(c) Requirements relating to certain research on impacts to descendants
The Working Group and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry shall—
(1)
establish an interagency task force to conduct research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of toxic-exposed veteran (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code);
(2)
maintain a publicly available website with information on the activities and findings of the Agency under subparagraph (A), including a review of all relevant data to determine the strength of evidence for a positive association between a health condition researched and a toxic exposure risk activity (as defined in section 1710(e)(4) of title 38, United States Code) based on the categories set forth under section 1173(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code; and
(3)
perform other actions as directed by the Secretary.
(b) Study of descendants of veterans of Operation Ranch Hand
(1) Establishment
Not later than, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the biological descendants of veterans who served in Operation Ranch Hand to—
(A)
assess the rates of birth defects and developmental delays among such descendants; and
(B)
identify—
(i)
genetic factors that prevented some of such descendants from developing such a birth defect or developmental delay;
(ii)
causes of related health outcomes; and
(iii)
preventative measures to mitigate risks associated with toxic exposures.
(2) Participants
Participation in the study shall be voluntary. To recruit participants, the Secretary shall contact such veterans and descendants.
(3) Data collection
To carry out the study, the Secretary shall use—
(A)
biological samples from such veterans and descendants to which the Secretary has access;
(B)
health records of such veterans and descendants to which the Secretary has access; and
(C)
surveys and questionnaires of such veterans and descendants, to identify relevant—
(i)
environmental exposures;
(ii)
lifestyle factors; and
(iii)
health conditions.
(4) Data analysis
To analyze data collected under subsection (c), the Secretary shall—
(A)
use statistical analysis (including regression models and comparative analyses) to determine correlations between toxic exposure and health outcomes; and
(B)
conduct genomic sequencing and analysis to identify genetic markers associated with health issues in such descendants.
(5) Report
Not later than, the Secretary shall publish the findings of the study.