Sens. Collins, Shaheen introduce legislation to tackle “Havana Syndrome”

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation Friday that would tackle the federal government’s response to suspected directed energy attacks, also known as “Havana Syndrome”.

The legislation, the Directed Energy Threat Emergency Response Act, would reform how the U.S. government investigates suspected directed energy attacks, as well as improve access to care for impacted individuals, and provide education about Havana Syndrome to federal employees.

“The injuries that many victims of probable directed energy attacks have endured are significant and life-altering. I have talked with many of these victims about the debilitating symptoms they have experienced. While they are focusing on their health, they should not have to battle the bureaucracy in order to receive the support they deserve,” Collins said. “This bipartisan bill would build on the HAVANA Act I authored by improving care for victims and coordinating a whole-of-government approach to identify the adversary who is targeting our American personnel.”

The legislation would require the President to provide a “whole of government” response to the attacks by designating a senior national security official to organize and oversee the government’s response to suspected directed energy attacks. Agencies involved in responding to the suspected attacks would also be required to designate a senior official to oversee the agency’s response. The legislation would authorize $45 million to be directed to the government’s response, $30 million of which would go toward improving care for federal employees who are subject to directed energy attacks.

“U.S. public servants injured by directed energy attacks should be treated with the same urgency as any other American injured in the line of duty. They shouldn’t have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to access the care they need, which compounds the suffering they’ve already endured,” Shaheen said. “U.S personnel and their families who have been affected by these attacks should be able to seek the care they need as swiftly as possible — access to urgent medical services should not be adversely impacted by government holdups.”

The legislation would also require agencies to develop workforce guidance to educate federal employees about the attacks and their impact on employees, as well as known defensive measures employees can take. Further, the legislation would provide a process through with individuals could self-report suspected exposure, and would establish a secure, interagency mechanism for personnel across agencies to self-report suspected exposure.

The legislation is also sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Bob Menendez (D- NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL).