Why the Specialist Joey Lenz Act Matters — and Why We Should Care Now
Trigger warning: this post talks about health screening failures and the risk of undiagnosed disease among our service members.
In 2022, the Army lost Specialist Joey Lenz — a young soldier who died in his sleep from a heart condition that never should have been a mystery. Nearly a year before his death, the Army had documented evidence that something was wrong: bloodwork taken after he was over-medicated during a routine Lasik eye surgery in March 2021 showed elevated troponin levels, a clear marker of cardiac distress and an indicator of a pre-existing heart condition. But no one told him. No one warned him. And no one began the medical discharge process that could have saved his life.
Instead, eleven months later — just after returning from Christmas leave — Joey was prescribed anxiety medication that should never be given to someone with a known or suspected heart condition. The combination accelerated the underlying damage. By the time he died, his heart was three times the normal size for a man his age.
For his family, and for anyone who has ever feared that a servicemember could fall through the cracks of a system that relies on checkboxes instead of clinical care, Joey’s death was more than a tragedy. It was a preventable failure — one that should never be repeated.
And it should never happen again.
That’s the backbone of the newly introduced Specialist Joey Lenz Act of 2025 (H.R. 1014). The bill proposes something pretty simple — and something long overdue: a mandatory, clinical-grade physical for every active-duty member of our Armed Forces, every year.
What the bill calls for
An annual “sports physical” — no more quick check-boxes or “did you feel a little off this month?” surveys.
An electrocardiogram (ECG), to catch early signs of heart disease or other cardiac concerns.
A full blood panel — metabolic, complete blood count, and (when indicated) deeper tests like thyroid hormone levels or markers of cardiac stress.
On top of that: periodic environmental health checks, including screening for burn-pit exposure and PFAS chemical exposure — heavy hitters in the veteran-health advocacy world.
Why this matters
Far too many service members who returned “sick but not sick enough” were brushed off. Without thorough testing, subtle but life-threatening issues can fly under the radar. Heart conditions can go dormant until medications or stress tip the balance. Toxic exposure can simmer for years before manifesting.
For veteran families, surviving spouses, advocates, and caregivers: this isn’t just about better prevention. It’s about a stronger safety net. A more solid medical baseline. Legitimate documentation for service-connected illness or disability. And — maybe most importantly — fewer families left with unanswered “why” questions.
Where the bill stands
As of now, the Specialist Joey Lenz Act has been introduced in the House (Feb 5, 2025) and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. No vote yet. No guarantees.
That doesn’t mean it’s dead. It means this: we have a window. A window to make noise. To urge our Representatives to support robust health care for the very people we ask to carry the weight of our national security.
What you can do — right now
If you’re reading this, you don’t have to be a veteran or a military spouse to care. Because service members are our neighbors, our friends, our family. Lives lost because of undiagnosed illness don’t stay on base. They leave scars in communities across America.
Reach out — contact your U.S. Representative. Ask them to cosponsor and support H.R. 1014.
Share this post. Spread awareness about what the bill does — and why it matters.
Elevate the stories. The system responds to data but also to pressure. Humanize the cause: families left behind, lives cut short, the silent suffering that could have been prevented.
Because taking care of those who protect us should not be optional. It should be the bare minimum.
“Protect them as they protect us.”
