Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

On Tuesday, September 16, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force held a well-attended briefing featuring a presentation by BIA of Oklahoma Vice President Michael Paul Mason, a brain injury case manager and author of Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath. Continue Reading »

This week, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) sent a letter, signed by over 60 House members from both parties, to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urging TRICARE coverage of cognitive rehabilitation. Continue Reading »

In addition, the Senate passed The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406) on Thursday, September 11.  This legislation to clarify and update the Americans with Disabilities Act has been widely supported by disability advocacy organizations, including BIAA. Continue Reading »

This week, BIAA sent out a Legislative Action Alert, urging grassroots advocates to tell their elected officials in Congress to increase appropriations for federal TBI programs in the expected upcoming extended Continuing Resolution (CR). Continue Reading »

The Brain Injury Association of America submitted formal testimony at a hearing held this week by the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee.  The hearing was held on Tuesday, September 9, and focused on several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 3051, The Heroes At Home Act of 2007, which BIAA has strongly endorsed. Continue Reading »

In a case that could have broad implications for consumers, the Supreme Court this fall will consider barring liability claims involving medications approved by the FDA.

By David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 7, 2008

WASHINGTON — Bridget Robb was awakened last December by a powerful electric shock to her chest. “It was a jolt of electricity. It felt like being shot in the chest or being hit by lightning,” said the 34-year-old mother from a Philadelphia suburb.

She knew the cause of her agony. A device implanted in her chest was supposed to shock her, but only if her heart had quit. Instead, because of frayed wires, it misfired 31 times in 13 minutes.

Read more here…

As in past years, Congress is not expected to finish appropriations before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Instead, Congress will most likely need to pass an extended Continuing Resolution (CR) for Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations to keep the government running into the next fiscal year beginning on October 1. Please click on the “Take Action” button in the upper-right hand corner of this email to urge your elected officials to support increased funding for traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs in the CR, as well as in any final Fiscal Year 2009 funding package.

Once again, BIAA signed a coalition letter urging passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195/S.3406).  On August 8, 2008, BIAA joined a number of other groups in signing a letter which was distributed to Senators over the summer recess urging swift Senate enactment of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406). Continue Reading »

On a related note, the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee passed its version of the Fiscal 2009 Defense Appropriations bill on July 30, 2008, including hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for TBI.

The funding bill approved by the Subcommittee includes $617 million for Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health. Continue Reading »

Despite little progress on appropriations so far this year, the House of Representatives was able to pass its version of the Fiscal 2009 Military Construction-VA spending bill (H.R. 6599) by a vote of 409-4 on August 1, 2008. Continue Reading »