U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand made several stops around the state Friday to gain support for legislation to extend health benefits and preventative treatment for veterans exposed to blast overpressure from explosions or their own weapons, who are at a higher risk for traumatic brain injuries.

People who have served in the military overseas are three times more likely to develop traumatic brain injuries, according to National Center for PTSD data. Servicemembers are suffering from these brain injuries or diseases at an increasing rate — caused by the blast from many weapons used in training or combat.

Many exposed to blast overpressure exposure from artillery, mortars and shoulder-fired rockets are struggling to concentrate or sleep, or have severe headaches or hallucinations.

"This is the cost of war and, chronically, we do not factor that in," Gillibrand said in Rochester on Friday. 

Gillibrand, a Democrat, held events in Rochester, East Syracuse and Albany announcing her legislation to extend health benefits for veterans as she campaigns for reelection this November against former NYPD detective Mike Sapraicone of Long Island.

The bill, called the "Blast Overpressure Safety Act," would require the U.S. Department of Defense to provide better screening, treatment and prevention for injuries related to blast overpressure. It would also improve department transparency about the weapons servicemembers use.

The senator added she's trying to get this legislation to the president's desk this year. The legislation has a similar bill in the House of Representatives that has bipartisan support.

"And we expect our servicemembers and veterans just to go on with their lives, but a lot of them have long-term debilitating injuries that need to be treated," the senator said. "That's why we're here today."

Gillibrand later told reporters these conversations are critical on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress this week about forming an alliance in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that started Oct. 7.

Gillibrand condemned recent pro-Palestinian protesters who burned the American flag near the U.S. Capitol during Netanyahu's address.