Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Trask Force, today celebrated the unanimous passage in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health of his bill, the Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7208). The Health Subcommittee approved an amendment today to rename the bill for Benigno, a Pascrell constituent and North Jersey resident who suffered a TBI when he was struck by a car as a pedestrian.

“A traumatic brain injury is a terrible burden for millions of Americans who suffer one, but also their many family members and loved ones, too,” said Congressman Pascrell. “The TBI Act remains the preeminent federal program to support the medical and societal needs of 5.3 million Americans living with lifelong disabilities due to traumatic brain injury. From vehicle accidents to youth sports to servicemembers wounded in combat, the causes of brain injuries are diverse and those suffering with the aftereffects need our attention and federal resources to combat this silent epidemic. Named for Dennis John Benigno and his family in our district, my legislation will go a long way to helping raise awareness for TBI and building support to treat it.”

In February 2024, Congressman Pascrell offered detailed testimony to the Health Subcommittee, recommending passage of his legislation. In addition, Congressman Pascrell called on the panel to help:

• Increase the authorization level for the TBI State Partnership Program for fiscal years 2025 to 2029
• Direct the Secretary of Health & Human Services to conduct a study about federally designating brain injury as a chronic condition
• Prioritize clarifying service eligibility for the TBI Act to make distinctions between external force injuries versus those that are internal force injuries
• Continue to Authorize the CDC TBI Programs and National Concussion Surveillance System for data collection of the disease prevalence of brain injuries
• Include the Administration for Community Living’s Protection and Advocacy Program as the nation's largest provider of legally-based advocacy services for people with disabilities.

“The issue of Traumatic Brain Injury became a personal matter to me early in my first term when I met with one of my constituents, Mr. Dennis John Benigno. Before then, I had no intimate knowledge about TBI nor its terrible impact on families. This became the impetus behind my passion for championing the cause in the Congress … Dennis’s courage, dedication, and love became my primary inspiration to try and make a difference in the fight for Americans living with TBI.” Pascrell told the Health panel in February about his Clifton, New Jersey, constituents. Dennis John Benigno sadly passed away in late January.

Founded by Congressman 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 partisan bill was cosponsored by task force co-chair, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE).