Rep. Jason Crow Introduces COMBAT Care Act to Advance Military Trauma Care

Representative Jason Crow (D-CO), a former Army Ranger and member of the House Armed Services Committee, will introduce the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act on Friday. The bill would authorize the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to create a joint training and education program with foreign militaries aimed at studying and applying lessons from past conflicts. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representative Jeff Crank (R-CO) and mirrors an identical provision already included in both the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act.

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Under the proposed program, the United States and partner nations could hold joint conferences, symposia, and professional exchange programs involving medical professionals. The Pentagon’s Joint Trauma System (JTS)—established in 2016—would likely coordinate evidence-driven performance improvement to enhance trauma readiness and outcomes across combatant commands. The University of Colorado Anschutz, located in Aurora, has endorsed the bill, signaling academic support for the envisioned research collaborations.

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Crow emphasized that evolving conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, require the United States to ensure “world-class care” for service members. Crank highlighted the importance of continued education and research partnerships, noting that the act would give the Defense and State Departments authority to study military trauma and pursue better treatment options for service members and veterans.

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If enacted, the COMBAT Care Act aims to improve survivability and functional recovery for injured personnel by integrating foreign-military insights with U.S. medical expertise. Proponents argue that the joint approach could accelerate the development of treatment protocols, ultimately strengthening the military’s overall medical readiness.

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• “The future of warfare is changing, as we are seeing in Ukraine right now. The United States must be ready for the new challenges we face and ensure that our servicemembers receive world-class care when they need it most,” — Rep. Jason Crow

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• “The COMBAT Care Act works to grant the Department of War and the State Department the authority to work together to study military trauma and look towards better treatment options for our service members and veterans,” — Rep. Jeff Crank

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