Join the Movement for Military & Veteran Health - Support OWA2025

By virtue of their occupations, our service members face unseen threats that linger long after they've left the military. The Overpressured Warfighters Act of 2025 (OWA2025) is here to change that narrative, offering protection, recognition, and support for those exposed to low-level blast overpressure and toxic particulate matter. Backed by a community of nearly 3,000 and propelled by compelling media narratives, OWA2025 is a call to action for Congress to safeguard our nation’s heroes. As a veteran who faced these risks firsthand, I’ve seen their devastating impact, and now I’m fighting to ensure no one else suffers in silence. Here’s how we can make a difference together:

What is OWA2025?

Legislative Proposal: Aims to officially recognize low-level blast overpressure (BOPE) and associated toxic particulate matter exposure from heavy weaponry as occupational health hazards within the military.

Key Provisions:

Health Hazard Classification:
Mandates the Department of Defense to classify BOPE and particulate matter exposure as health hazards, integrating this into existing health and safety policies.
Health Monitoring: Entry, Annual, and Exit Health Assessments:
Service members will receive comprehensive health checks upon entering high-risk roles, annually, and before discharge to monitor the impact of exposure (Section 6 of OWA2025).
Benefits Expansion, Amendment to PACT Act:
Includes these exposures as toxic events, expanding veterans' access to healthcare, screenings, and presumptive service-connection for related conditions.
Research & Development:
 - Funding Allocation: Prioritizes research into the health effects, especially longitudinal studies to understand long-term impacts.
 - Innovation Grants: Encourages private sector involvement to develop protective technologies and treatments.
 - Education and Awareness: Educational Programs: For service members, veterans, families, and healthcare providers to understand symptoms, risks, and support options.
 - Cultural Shift: Promotes a military culture that acknowledges and addresses these occupational health risk.

Why OWA2025 Matters:

Protecting Service Members: Ensures current and future military personnel are safeguarded from the health consequences of their service.
Veteran Support: Provides recognition and benefits for veterans who have suffered from these often invisible injuries, improving their quality of life.
Readiness & Efficiency: By addressing health issues proactively, we maintain military readiness and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Moral Obligation: Acknowledges the sacrifices made by our warfighters, ensuring their health is not compromised by the very nature of their duties.
As NPR reported in “Two Marines spent years firing heavy weapons. Then came headaches and hemorrhage,” the urgency is clear: “Our troops deserve better.” We can’t wait any longer.

Support and Advocacy:

The Cohort of OverPressured Warfighters: Led by Todd Strader, a U.S. Army veteran with firsthand experience of BOPE’s health effects has united nearly 3,000 members on social media. This community also includes affected warfighters, veterans, their families, academics, journalists, and advocates.

We’ve been at the forefront of:
 - Community Building: Offering a platform for education, support, and peer connection.
 - Policy Influence: Working directly with members of Congress and military institutions to shape policy and training.
 - Research Guidance: Todd serves on Community Advisory Boards, directly influencing the direction of scientific research into blast overpressure effects.
 - Media Coverage: Our advocacy efforts have been spotlighted by major media outlets, amplifying the urgency of BOPE and particulate exposure:

 - The New York Times: "Signs of Brain Injury in Mortar Soldiers: ‘Guys Are Getting Destroyed’"
 - NPR: "Two Marines spent years firing heavy weapons. Then came headaches and hemorrhage"
 - ABC News: "Military hunts for answers to mysterious brain injuries among troops"
 - Spotlight on America: "Soldiers and veterans suffering brain injuries from firing the weapons that defend us"
 - Military.com: "Blast Pressure Injuries May Affect More Than the Brain of Troops, New Data Shows"

Become part of our movement by joining our Facebook community for ongoing support and updates.

Call to Action:

Introduce The Overpressured Warfighters Act of 2025: We urge a member of Congress to champion this bill, introducing it into the legislative process to begin the journey towards supporting our nation’s defenders in their health and well-being. Act now—our service members and veterans can’t wait. Sign and share today to push Congress to act in 2025!

For More Information visit: www.OverPressured.com/owa2025

Let’s Honor Our Service Members by Protecting Their Health. Support The Overpressured Warfighters Act of 2025!

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Thank you.