Monthly Archives: February 2009
TBI and the Military
On Thursday, Congressmen Pascrell and Platts hosted a briefing featuring Col. Michael Jaffee of the Department of Defense, DOD Defense Center of Excellence (DCoE), Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center.
Appropriations Update
This week, efforts to take up the FY09 appropriations omnibus bill were stalled further due to the consideration and conference of the Economic Stimulus Legislation. The house will likely wait until after the Presidents Day Recess to tackle appropriations.
BIAA will continue to watch the developments of the omnibus closely as we near the March 6th deadline.
Economic Stimulus Update
Congress is gearing up to clear their spending and tax cut measure aimed at stimulating job creation and the health of the economy as early as Friday. The goal is to have the legislation on President Obama’s desk by Presidents Day.
Help us designate March as Brain Injury Awareness Month
On February 4, 2009, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, introduced legislation that would designate March as “Brain Injury Awareness” month (H.Con.Res.40).
In this Concurrent resolution, Congressman Pascrell expressed the need for enhanced public awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury and support for a National Brain Injury Awareness Month.
To date, the legislation has 54 sponsors in the House!
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] – 2/4/2009
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 2/4/2009
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] – 2/4/2009
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] – 2/4/2009
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] – 2/4/2009
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11] – 2/4/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] – 2/4/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] – 2/4/2009
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 2/4/2009
Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] – 2/4/2009
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] – 2/4/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] – 2/4/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] – 2/4/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] – 2/4/2009
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] – 2/4/2009
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] – 2/4/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] – 2/4/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] – 2/4/2009
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] – 2/4/2009
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 2/4/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 2/4/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] – 2/4/2009
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] – 2/4/2009
Rep Nye, Glenn C., III [VA-2] – 2/4/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 2/4/2009
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] – 2/4/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] – 2/4/2009
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 2/4/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] – 2/4/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] – 2/4/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 2/4/2009
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] – 2/4/2009
Rep Spratt, John M., Jr. [SC-5] – 2/4/2009
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] – 2/4/2009
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] – 2/4/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] – 2/4/2009
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] – 2/4/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] – 2/4/2009
If they are not on this list, please write your Members of Congress and ask them to designate March as “Brain Injury Awareness” month.
Thank you for helping us tell Congress that brain injury is a critical public health epidemic!
SCHIP Update
On Wednesday, President Obama signed a major expansion of health insurance for children after the House cleared the bill (H.R. 2) earlier in the day.
BIAA Urges Reduction of Lifetime Insurance Caps
Also this week, BIAA supported the Lifetime Caps Coalition by cosigning a letter to encourage the reintroduction of the Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act, legislation that would increase the minimum lifetime health insurance spending cap of those with chronic illnesses.
Economic Stimulus Legislation Update
Senate moderates worked late into Thursday night looking for a compromise that would scale back the economic stimulus bill (H.R. 1) towards the $800 billion mark. A few Democratic moderates were convinced last night that they were inching closer to a deal that would win support from a small group of Republicans and perhaps give the package enough votes to pass.
Appropriations Update
Although it was reported last week that the House would take up the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) appropriations omnibus bill on Wednesday, February 4, Democratic leaders changed their mind out of concern that consideration of the bill may interfere with passing the economic stimulus package (H.R. 1).
Former Senator Tom Daschle Withdraws His Nomination
This week former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration to become the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Some consider Daschle’s withdrawal to be a blow to efforts to enact timely reform of the nation’s health care system, as he was viewed as someone uniquely qualified to take this project on, due to his knowledge of health policy and many close relationships in the Senate.
Legislative Report January 2009
The month of January in Sacramento has sadly been like the most previous recent months in Sacramento when it comes to the Legislature and Governor successfully dealing with California’s Budget crisis. That is: no resolution to date.
