H.R. 3641: Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2025

This bill, referred to as the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights Act of 2025, aims to improve accountability and oversight for members of the Armed Forces who are undergoing the medical separation process due to illness or injury. The key points of the bill are as follows:

Clarification of Responsibilities

The bill establishes that:

• The Secretary of the respective military department (Army, Navy, Air Force) has the primary authority over members of the Armed Forces who are being evaluated for fitness for duty.
• Responsibilities for assessing a Wounded Warrior’s fitness may involve medical professionals from outside their specific military department, but the final decisions remain with the military Secretary.
• The military chain of command is responsible for these assessments throughout the entire medical evaluation process, rather than the Defense Health Agency.

Due Process and Appeals

The bill ensures that:

• Wounded Warriors have a right to a full and fair hearing if they dispute their fitness determinations, which must be made available within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
• This appeal process is separate from any appeals under the Department of Defense's Integrated Disability Evaluation System, giving wounded service members additional options for recourse.
• All appeals should be processed in a timely manner, with completion ideally occurring within 90 days of initiation.

Implementation and Oversight

The Secretary of Defense is instructed to update relevant policies to align with these new guidelines and report back to Congress on progress by February 1, 2026.

Definitions

The bill defines key terms such as:

• Wounded Warrior: A member of the Armed Forces undergoing evaluation for potential medical separation.
• Secretary concerned: Refers to the Secretary of the military department responsible for the service member’s evaluation.
• Appropriate congressional committees: The Senate and House Armed Services Committees, which will receive updates on the implementation of these provisions.

Purpose

The overarching purpose of this legislation is to ensure that Wounded Warriors receive fair treatment and that their rights are protected throughout the medical evaluation and separation process, reinforcing the concept of accountability within the military system.

Relevant Companies

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