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H.R. 7745House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Jodey C. ArringtonRep. Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX)
Introduced March 2, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 18, 2026 at 4:51 AM UTC

This bill sets up mandatory wellness checks for service members who suffer serious injuries, illnesses, or are on sick call, ensuring their health and welfare are tracked. It requires escalating from electronic contact to in‑person visits if needed, and ties unresolved cases to existing missing‑person procedures. The rules apply to service members, their unit commanders, judge advocates, and Department of Defense personnel, and include training for leaders on these accountability measures.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense must create rules that require a wellness check whenever a service member has a serious injury, illness, or is on sick call.
  • If a member does not answer an electronic or phone check, the check must be done in person.
  • If the member still cannot be found, the check must follow existing DOD procedures for reporting missing or unknown‑status personnel.
  • Unit commanders must work with their unit’s judge advocates to apply these rules.
  • Commanders must regularly review and update critical information requirements and hold confidential meetings with subordinate commanders and medical officers to discuss significant health issues.
  • The Defense and other department secretaries must develop training for leaders and civilian staff on the importance of health‑related accountability and how to conduct wellness checks.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

March 2, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 2, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

March 2, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 2, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7745

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 2, 2026

Mr. Arrington (for himself, Mr. McDowell, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Rose, Mr. Van Epps, and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To establish certain requirements relating to wellness checks for the health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

1.

Requirements relating to wellness checks for health and welfare of certain members of the Armed Forces

(a)

Wellness checks

(1)

Wellness checks required

The Secretary of Defense shall issue such regulations, policies, and procedures as may be necessary to require that, whenever appropriate following a member of the Armed Forces sustaining any significant injury or illness or being on sick call, a wellness check is conducted to account for the health and welfare of such member.

(2)

Methods of contact

In conducting a wellness check for a member of the Armed Forces pursuant to paragraph (1), if the member does not respond to such check conducted via an electronic or telephone communication method, the individual conducting the check shall progress to an in-person method of contact.

(3)

Result of failure to locate

If, as a result of a wellness check conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) for a member of the Armed Forces, the individual conducting such check is unable to locate such member, the individual shall refer to the applicable regulations, policies, and procedures of the Department of Defense regarding the determination and reporting of such member as missing, absent unknown, absent without leave, or duty status-whereabouts unknown.

(b)

Implementation by unit commanders

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each unit commander coordinates with the judge advocates assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, the unit under the command of such commander for assistance in the implementation of any regulation, policy, or procedure required under subsection (a) with respect to such unit.

(c)

Additional actions by unit commanders

On a routine basis, each unit commander shall—

(1)

review the requirements contained in the document titled Commander's Critical Information Requirements, dated January 2020, or such successor document, to ensure such requirements—

(A)

have been issued or updated during the three-year period preceding any such review;

(B)

reflect such medical issues or safety incidents of members of the Armed Forces that the commander deems sufficiently significant; and

(C)

have been distributed to the unit under the command of such commander; and

(2)

host confidential wellness meetings with subordinate commanders at which such commanders may discuss with one or more medical officers assigned to such unit any significant injuries or illnesses affecting members of the Armed Forces serving in or with such unit.

(d)

Training courses

Each Secretary concerned, and the Secretary of Defense with respect to civilian personnel of the Department of Defense, shall develop and implement training courses to ensure each member of an Armed Force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary (or each civilian employee of the Department of Defense, respectively) is aware of the importance of accountability with respect to health and welfare and of the significant negative outcomes that may occur when accountability procedures fail. Such courses shall be offered at leadership and supervisor trainings and shall include content relating to the conduct of wellness checks in accordance with subsection (a) and other related actions.

(e)

Secretary concerned defined

In this section, the term Secretary concerned has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.