This legislation, titled the Staff Sergeant John D. Martek Purple Heart Restoration Act , aims to expand eligibility for the Purple Heart to certain veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) . It directs the Secretary concerned to treat these veterans similarly to those killed or wounded in action by an enemy of the United States, for the purpose of receiving this distinguished award. A veteran is eligible if their TBI occurred while serving in the Armed Forces due to an act of an enemy on or after December 7, 1941 . Furthermore, they must either have a service-connected disability attributable to the TBI, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or possess a military record that clearly documents the occurrence of such an injury. The bill mandates the creation of an application process and requires the Purple Heart to be awarded to all eligible applicants, irrespective of the date their TBI was sustained.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Armed Forces and National Security
Staff Sergeant John D. Martek Purple Heart Restoration Act
USA119th CongressHR-2719| House
| Updated: 4/8/2025
This legislation, titled the Staff Sergeant John D. Martek Purple Heart Restoration Act , aims to expand eligibility for the Purple Heart to certain veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) . It directs the Secretary concerned to treat these veterans similarly to those killed or wounded in action by an enemy of the United States, for the purpose of receiving this distinguished award. A veteran is eligible if their TBI occurred while serving in the Armed Forces due to an act of an enemy on or after December 7, 1941 . Furthermore, they must either have a service-connected disability attributable to the TBI, as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or possess a military record that clearly documents the occurrence of such an injury. The bill mandates the creation of an application process and requires the Purple Heart to be awarded to all eligible applicants, irrespective of the date their TBI was sustained.