Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, that would provide federal resources supporting individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  The legislation, H.R. 1098, The Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2013, passed by voice vote.

“I’m thrilled to see this critical legislation pass the House with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Reports from the battlefield to local athletic fields show that traumatic brain injuries are a growing epidemic across our nation.  This legislation will provide vital resources to programs that support folks living with this devastating injury while making key investments in education and research around TBI prevention. Additionally, this legislation elevates the TBI program within the Department of Health and Human Services to allow the program to adapt based on the needs of TBI survivors and to allow for better coordination among federal agencies. I remain committed, just as I have for the past 12 years, to making TBI treatment and prevention a priority in order to protect our soldiers and our athletes alike.  I urge my colleagues in the Senate to now take action in order to help protect Americans from the effects of this silent epidemic.”

"Tens of thousands of our nation’s troops and veterans suffer from traumatic brain injury,”  said Rep. Rooney (R-FL), co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.  “As our war fighters return home, we have an obligation to make sure they get the treatment they need – and to do all we can to prevent future brain injuries from occurring in the first place. Passing the TBI Act will help improve our ability to prevent, detect and treat brain injuries for all Americans, but particularly our troops and veterans. I appreciate Rep. Pascrell’s longstanding efforts and leadership on combating brain injuries, and I’m honored to work with him to advance this bipartisan cause.”

Originally passed in 1996 and reauthorized in 2000 and 2008, the TBI Act represents a foundation for coordinated and balanced public policy in prevention, education, research and community-living for people with TBI.  The TBI Act specifically allocates federal funds for programs supporting individuals with brain injury to federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Health (NIH).

Approximately 1.7 million Americans experience TBI each year and an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with long-term, severe disabilities as a result of brain injury. Another 176,000 men and women have sustained a TBI in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Founded by Rep. Pascrell in 2001, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force’s mission is to further provide education and awareness of brain injury (incidence, prevalence, prevention and treatment) and support funding for basic and applied research on brain injury rehabilitation and development of a cure.  The Task Force is bipartisan and made up of over one hundred members of Congress.

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The Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2013

Background
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by a sudden jolt, blow or penetrating injury to the head that that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The injury often results in problems with thinking, emotions, language, physical mobility and sensory that affects how a person is able to live and work independently. While falls and motor vehicle crashes are the major causes of TBI, injuries associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are also contributing to increased numbers of individuals with TBI.

Congress first passed the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act in 1996 to help individuals with TBI, and their families, gain access to rehabilitation, long-term care, and community and family supports often needed for return to home, work, school and community activities.  The law has been reauthorized and amended twice, in 2000 and 2008.  The TBI Act currently authorizes:

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to assist States in developing and expanding service delivery capacity for individuals with traumatic brain injury and their families,
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct surveillance, prevention and public education programs;
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct of basic and applied research in TBI
• HRSA to make grants for the Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) program, which provides critical advocacy services to ensure that people with TBIs live full and independent lives free from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

Currently, 21 States and Territories are receiving funding from the HRSA Federal TBI Program to develop service infrastructure and to expand service capacity to address unique problems associated with TBI. The CDC has classified TBI as a serious public health problem in the United States, contributing to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability.  CDC’s research and programs work to prevent TBI and help people better recognize, respond, and recover if a TBI occurs.  The CDC has produced a number of reports and guidelines relating to veterans with TBI, sports concussions, and response guidelines for educators.  PATBI operates advocacy programs in all States, Territories and the District of Columbia.

2014 Reauthorization
The reauthorization will elevate the TBI program within Health and Human Services (HHS) by moving the program from Maternal and Child Health’s Children’s Program in acknowledgement of the impact of TBI across the age span, including older adults and returning service members/veterans. The 2014 Reauthorization gives the Secretary of HHS discretion to move the program to another office within HHS that can better coordinate with federal agencies regarding long-term services and supports available to individuals with other disabilities, particularly the long-term services and supports provision of the Affordable Care Act.

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