Clermont Times

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the issue of anomalous health incidents, also known as "Havana Syndrome". The bill, named the Initiating Imperative Reporting on Anomalous Health Incidents Act, or IIR on AHI Act, directs the Secretary of Defense to provide the House and Senate Armed Services Committees with a briefing on these incidents.

The legislation would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to share information with the Committees regarding confirmed or suspected cases of AHI affecting service members and civilian employees of DOD. This includes details such as the number of people affected, the location of the incidents, and the timeframe in which they occurred. Additionally, the bill calls for an update on the strategy for protecting individuals from the effects of AHI, as well as the current efforts to address and prevent these incidents.

Congressman Brad Wenstrup, a physician and retired Army Colonel, expressed his concern over the reports of unexplained medical symptoms experienced by DOD service members and civilians, diplomats, and intelligence officers worldwide. He stated, "This legislation would provide Congress with critical information needed to support the health and well-being of the men and women who serve our country."

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer, emphasized the importance of understanding the extent of these incidents and developing strategies to address them. She said, "Our national security should never be a partisan issue, and I'm glad to join Congressman Wenstrup in working to protect our servicemembers."

Joining Wenstrup and Spanberger in introducing the bill are Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS). Congressman Crawford highlighted the need to address the mysterious illness, stating, "We cannot let these victims slip away forgotten, we need to have discussions with the Department of Defense about the proper response and ways to prevent more incidents."

Congressman Don Bacon echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to understand the impact of these incidents and improve the protection of personnel stationed overseas. He stated, "We need to hear from the Department of Defense about how many this has affected and what they are doing to treat and better protect our people."

Congressman Trent Kelly expressed his support for the legislation, calling it a critical step towards understanding and addressing the mysterious afflictions known as Havana Syndrome. He stated, "This briefing will not only offer insight into the scale and severity of the health issues faced but also accelerate our efforts to protect those who serve our nation from such unexplained health incidents."

Anomalous health incidents, also known as "Havana Syndrome," are a set of unexplained medical symptoms that were first documented by U.S. State Department personnel stationed in Havana, Cuba in 2016. These incidents have since been reported by diplomats and intelligence personnel in various countries, including Russia, Poland, Georgia, Serbia, Vietnam, India, Colombia, France, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the U.S. Some individuals have even left active service due to complications from the condition.

While previous provisions have required Department of State reporting and interagency coordination on these incidents, no provision currently requires the Department of Defense to report to and brief Congress on them.

The introduction of the Initiating Imperative Reporting on Anomalous Health Incidents Act aims to address this gap and provide Congress with the necessary information to support the health and well-being of those affected by Havana Syndrome.