Monthly Archives: March 2009
Appropriations Update
This week, both House and Senate Budget Committees adopted budget resolutions creating the framework for this year’s spending bills.
Although both plans largely adhere to the priorities that President Obama laid out in February, they also scale back some of his spending and tax measures for fiscal year 2010, with the House proposing $7 billion less in discretionary spending and the Senate trimming about $15 billion.
Brain Injury Awareness Month Resolution
On Monday the House adopted by voice vote, H.Res.178, a resolution expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month. Several Congressmen, including Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., Co-Chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force were on hand to extend comments on the house floor regarding the importance of this issue.
Congressional Brain Injury Task Force Awareness Day on Capitol Hill
On Wednesday, BIAA participated in a day-long awareness day on Capitol Hill sponsored by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.
During the first event of the day, the Brain Injury Awareness Fair, BIAA manned an exhibit inspired by always creative BIA of Wyoming. The brain injury “empathy experience” allowed both members of Congress and their staff to participate in several activities that simulated some of the long term effects associated with experiencing brain injury.
Congressional Brain Injury Task Force Awareness Day
Next week on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force will be sponsoring a full day of events centered around promoting brain injury awareness.
This year’s theme is “Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries: From the Football Field to the Battlefield.” The events will include a fair featuring 46 exhibits, a Congressional briefing including speakers such as Chris Nowinski, (Founder of the Sports Legacy Institute, Author, Former WWE Professional Wrestler and a member of BIAA’s board of directors) and a Congressional Reception.
BIAA Unveils Legislative Agenda for 2009
This week, in preparation for Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, BIAA unveiled its legislative agenda. With the impending healthcare reform movement looming, BIAA has made access to brain injury care the cornerstone of this year’s priorities.
Appropriations Update
This week, BIAA mobilized grassroots advocates by sending out an action alert regarding FY2010 appropriations.
The message detailed that over the next few weeks, both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees will be working to craft the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations bill, which will provide the funding allocation for NIDRR’s TBI-related research programs, including TBI Model Systems of Care, as well as programs authorized through the TBI Act.
Appropriations Action on Federal TBI Programs Just Around The Corner
Over the next few weeks, both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees will be working to craft the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations bill, which will provide the funding allocation for programs authorized through the TBI Act and for NIDRR’s TBI-related research programs, including TBI Model Systems of Care.
President Obama Nominates Kansas Governor for Health and Human Services Post
As reported by CQ, President Obama nominated Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas as secretary of Health and Human Services. No confirmation hearing has been scheduled yet, but Sebelius will eventually go before the Senate Finance Committee. BIAA will continue to monitor this nomination.
NIDRR Proposed Long-Range Plan
This week, as part of the Disability and Rehabilitaion Research Coalition (DRRC), BIAA signed on to comments regarding the proposed long range plan (Fiscal Years 2010-2014) for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
The NIDRR proposal focuses mainly on employment, making only passing references to health and function research.
In the comments, BIAA and other members of the DRRC urge NIDRR to restore the broad focus of research and development activities by recognizing the critical importance of all major life domains affecting persons with disabilities, i.e., participation and community living, health and function, as well as employment.
FY10 Defense Appropriations Hearing Featuring the Defense Center of Excellence TBI Program
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing to address the need to improve the quality of care for servicemembers suffering from traumatic brain injury.
The witness list included, Ellen Embry, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Gen. Loree Sutton, the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
