The latest effort to protect U.S. servicemembers from traumatic brain injuries involves the weapons they use.

The Blast Overpressure Safety Act is a bipartisan bill meant to protect military personnel from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) by implementing health measures.

“We’re looking about how we can still train our servicemembers to be as lethal as they are, but not do it in a way that gives them brain injuries,” U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York, said.

Research by the U.S. Department of Defense shows significant brain injuries can occur not only from combat scenarios, but routine training exercises as well. That’s why lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing the Blast Overpressure Safety Act, which would mandate regular neurocognitive assessments over a servicemember’s career, as well as create blast overpressure exposure and TBI logs.

“At the end of the day, this is about our national security because when our service members can't function, or when they have to retire early because they can't function, we are depleting our best and brightest and depleting our military and our strength,” Gillibrand said. 

According to the Wounded Warrior Project, around 20% of post-Sept. 11 veterans have a TBI diagnosis. Lawmakers who support the Blast Overpressure Safety Act say reports show many soldiers are sustaining TBIs as a result of firing their own weapons.

Some vets are happy to see the issue is being addressed.

"The Blast Overpressure Act is going to be an innovative way to prevent and treat these issues we're coming back with," said Anne Marie Hogancamp, legislative chair for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of New York. 

Others, however, aren’t as optimistic.

“It’s gonna keep happening," said Patrick VanEtten, state sergeant at arms for the VFW. "They’re never gonna make it stop happening. Because if they do, we will not be ready. We will not take care of the fire, take care of the flood, get the weapons where they need to be. It will not happen by slowing down training. It’s just gonna make us less ready.”

After years of service, VanEtten has TBI. He believes the research this act will bring could make an impact, but not as big as some may hope.   

“I’m not against the research and doing it. I think it is a good idea," VanEtten said. "And maybe they will come up with some good way to deter it somewhat. And every little bit helps, everything you could learn new is good. It’s not gonna stop it. Never gonna stop it.”   

But he’s still hoping for the best.

“Getting people the help is the biggest way this bill will help. It’s gonna get people the medical aid and assistance they need in the future,” he said.