Oct
13
2008
According to CQ Today, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a lame duck session beginning Nov. 17, when senators will already be in Washington for the biennial meetings to elect party leaders. In November, the lame ducks will vote on a massive package of public land bills that couldn’t get through the Senate individually because of a single persistent foe: Sen. Tom Coburn” (CQ Today, 10/02/08, Bart Jansen). Continue Reading »
Oct
08
2008
For the third consecutive year, the Bakersfield Condors Hockey Team provided a venue for the California Brain Injury Association to raise awareness of Brain Injury, and provide valuable information to the public. With over 6,000 people in attendance at the March 14th game, CALBIA was able to reach out to a number of people, many of which were children and seniors. Continue Reading »
Oct
08
2008
Within the past few days, Congress also passed the FY 2009 defense authorization bill (S. 3001). This legislation contains a “Sense of Congress on TBI Research.” Specifically, the bill states in Sec. 725: Continue Reading »
Oct
08
2008
In late breaking news from the United States Capitol, Congress has just approved a $700 billion financial bailout package, which also includes landmark mental health parity legislation (H.R. 1424/S. 558) and dozens of expiring tax breaks for businesses and individuals. Continue Reading »
Sep
29
2008
In response to the fact that no single Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations bill has been enacted this year, the House passed on Wednesday an omnibus continuing appropriations bill to fund most government programs – including TBI and trauma-related programs - at Fiscal 2008 (last year’s) levels until March 6, 2009. Continue Reading »
Sep
22
2008
On Thursday, September 18, the House of Representatives passed, and cleared for the President’s expected signature, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3406). This legislation to clarify and update the Americans with Disabilities Act has been widely supported by disability advocacy organizations, including BIAA. Continue Reading »
Sep
16
2008
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 »
Jul
25
2008
Despite little progress on appropriations so far this year, the House of Representatives does plan on bringing the Fiscal 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill to the floor next week. This will be the first regular Fiscal 2009 appropriations bill to receive House floor consideration this session, and could also be one of the last. Continue Reading »
Jul
25
2008
Take Action!
Call Your Senators TODAY
Earlier this week, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced the Advancing America’s Priorities Act (S. 3297), an omnibus bill that combines nearly three dozen non-controversial, bipartisan measures which have been blocked from full Senate consideration due to objections from Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn. Continue Reading »
Jul
22
2008
BIAA issued a Legislative Action Alert this week urging both presidential candidates to attend the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall and engage in an in-depth discussion of the increasingly complex issues facing America’s military and veterans community, including the rate of traumatic brain injury among returning service members. BIAA is a member of the 2008 Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, and the event is tentatively scheduled to occur on August 11, 2008. Continue Reading »