June 29, 2026
Mr. Smith of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a report on testing for helicobacter pylori for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Preventing Stomach Cancer in Our Nation’s Heroes Act
.
Sec. 2. Report on testing members of the Armed Forces for H. pylori
(a) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing a plan, cost estimate, and feasibility study for implementing testing for helicobacter pylori (commonly known as H. pylori
) during the period in which a member of the Armed Forces is transitioning to civilian life.
(b) Cost estimate
The cost estimate included in the report under subsection (a) shall include an estimate of costs for implementing a program for conducting testing described in such subsection that includes testing for H. pylori using breath and stool-based methods.
(c) Consideration of expertise
In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary may seek the input and expertise of physician experts, including gastroenterologists who have expertise in—
(1)
the field of H. pylori;
(2)
the gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that arise from H. pylori; or
(3)
the screening and testing mechanisms for such diseases and disorders.