WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Richard Hudson (NC-09) reintroduced the MISSION ZERO Reauthorization Act to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to continue assigning trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers to assist in filling gaps in emergency care.

“The MacDill Air Medical Group and Tampa General Hospital have led the way in ‘full team’ training—bringing together military and civilian nurses, surgeons and specialists to hone their trauma care skills. Their innovative approach inspired me to introduce the bipartisan MISSION ZERO Act in 2018 to expand these vital partnerships nationwide,” said Rep. Castor. “The law provides ongoing support for military and civilian medical teams to train side-by-side in high-pressure environments, ensuring they are always ready to assist our service members and communities. This is a win-win for improving our nation’s civilian emergency response capacity and keeping military provider’s skills sharp off the battlefield. I take pride that Tampa General was among the first in the nation to receive a MISSION ZERO grant, and I am committed to promoting this initiative that fosters these life-saving collaborations.”

“As Fort Bragg’s Congressman, I know how important it is for our military trauma teams to retain their unique medical skills off the battlefield,” said Rep. Hudson. “This commonsense legislation will continue to support partnerships between our military and civilian trauma providers to ensure critical, life-saving care is always readily available for patients.”

“I applaud Representatives Castor and Hudson for introducing legislation to reauthorize the MISSION ZERO Act,” said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons. “The military-civilian trauma care partnerships allow military trauma care teams to gain exposure to treating critically injured patients and increase readiness for when these units are deployed, providing greater patient access and further advancing high quality trauma care.”

"In times of war, America's trauma centers will play a pivotal role in saving the lives of those wounded on the front lines," said Jennifer Ward, president of the Trauma Center Association of America.  "Through MISSION ZERO, military healthcare providers refine their skills in real-world trauma settings, while civilian trauma teams benefit by learning best practices from their military counterparts. We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Kathy Castor and Richard Hudson for introducing legislation that would reauthorize this essential public-private partnership, which ensures that stateside military personnel maintain peak readiness before deployment."

"The MISSION ZERO Act is a vital investment in trauma readiness that strengthens emergency care on both the battlefield and at home,” said Dr. Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “By embedding military trauma teams in civilian trauma centers, we can enhance the care for severely injured patients, share knowledge and hands-on experience, and foster invaluable collaboration between military and civilian clinicians, ensuring military trauma teams can maintain their skills and team cohesion between deployments. We thank Representatives Castor and Hudson for their leadership in reintroducing this lifesaving legislation."

BACKGROUND:

Castor and Hudson led the original MISSION ZERO Act, signed into law in 2019, which established grant programs for eligible trauma systems and centers to incorporate full military trauma teams or individual military trauma providers into their hospitals. This mutually beneficial partnership has afforded civilians the chance to learn more about military best practices and gives military trauma care providers the opportunity to utilize their cutting-edge expertise without leaving the military. 

The MISSION ZERO Reauthorization Act would continue funding for this vital initiative for an additional five years. 

Tampa General Hospital, one of the nation’s leading trauma centers, received an $80,000 federal grant in 2022 to fund military doctors to provide trauma care at their hospital. 

View the full bill text here.