Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

As Congress adjourns for Memorial Day Recess next week, formal appropriations action on federal TBI programs is just around the corner.

Beginning in June, both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees are expected to hold markups on the Fiscal 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations bill, which provides federal funding for multiple TBI programs. Continue Reading »

BIAA Signs On In Support of National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution

BIAA was proud to sign on as a supporter of the National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution (S. Res. 518), which passed the Senate on Monday. The Resolution, introduced by Senator Dodd (D-CT), dedicates this week (the week of April 21st through 25th) to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to ultimately eliminate its occurrence.

BIAA was included as a supporter of the resolution in Senator Dodd’s floor statement that was submitted to the Congressional Record when it was introduced on Thursday, April 16, 2008.

BIAA Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Within the testimony, BIAA requests $30 million in funding for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as sufficient funding to sustain and increase medical rehabilitation research within NIDRR. The testimony also urges an allocation of at least $8.3 million to allow NIDRR to continue to fund 16 TBI Model Systems research centers.

In addition, BIAA played a leading role, along with other national organizations, in recent weeks in drafting and circulating an organizational sign-on letter in support of FY09 TBI appropriations. The letter, which was signed by over 25 organizations - including several veterans organizations - was recently delivered to both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Copies of both BIAA’s written testimony and the Organizational Sign-On Letter in support of appropriations for TBI programs can be obtained by visiting BIAA’s website at the following address: http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.

Brain Injury Association of America
Policy Corner E-Newsletter – April 18, 2008
A weekly update on federal policy activity related to traumatic brain injury
__________________________________________________________________

Dear Advocates:

After legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act successfully passed Congress on April 10, the bill still needs to be considered by the President for his signature into law. BIAA anticipates this consideration will occur within the next week, and is closely monitoring the situation.

This week the House of Representatives passed by a veto-proof margin H.R. 5613, important legislation which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven harmful Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert earlier this week before the vote encouraging advocates to urge their Representative to vote YES on the bill. The fate of the bill is now up to the Senate.

Also this week, BIAA submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of funding TBI programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education. BIAA’s testimony urges an increase in funding in Fiscal Year 2009 for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as TBI research programs conducted within the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

In addition, a representative of BIAA was invited to attend an event hosted by President George W. Bush on Thursday, April 24, at the White House. The inspiring event honored a group of wounded warriors as they kicked off the Wounded Warrior Project’s second annual “Soldier Ride: White House to Light House Challenge.”

And lastly, BIAA was proud to sign on as a supporter of the National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week Resolution (S. Res. 518), which passed the Senate on Monday. The Resolution, introduced by Senator Dodd (D-CT), dedicates this week (the week of April 21st through 25th) to raise awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome and to ultimately eliminate its occurrence.

*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org

The Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury Association of America gratefully acknowledges their support for legislative action.

Last night, the House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act (S. 793), by a vote of 392-1. BIAA thanks all of you who called your Representatives and urged them to vote YES on the bill! Continue Reading »

Last night, the Senate passed a slightly revised version of S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, which exactly matches the House version passed earlier this week. The bill has now been cleared entirely by Congress and will be forwarded on to the President for his signature!!! Continue Reading »

In addition this week, BIAA submitted an official letter of endorsement for H.R. 2818, The VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence Act of 2007, which would establish six VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (Epilepsy CoEs) across the country to lead the way in epilepsy diagnosis, research, treatment and surgery. Continue Reading »

Also this week, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed a slightly revised version of H.R. 5613, legislation recently introduced which would place a moratorium until March 2009 on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. BIAA has strongly endorsed this legislation and submitted an official letter of endorsement to the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Murphy (R-PA), this week. Continue Reading »

This recent article focuses on the “Hidden Causes of Social Disorders”, tying social symptoms to traumatic brain and head injuries.

Researchers studying brain injury believe they’ve found a common thread running through many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems: a long-forgotten blow to the head.

Read more here… 

Researchers studying brain injury believe they’ve found a common thread running through many cases of seemingly unrelated social problems: a long-forgotten blow to the head.

Read More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120156672297223803.html