Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

BIAA joined several other TBI stakeholders this week in circulating organizational sign-on letters to gather support from other advocacy groups in urging key appropriators to provide increased funding for federal TBI programs. Continue Reading »

Progress on appropriations occurred this week in the House of Representatives, as the House Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee marked up, and approved by voice vote, its Fiscal 2009 spending bill on Thursday.

Specific details of the bill, including funding levels for several federal TBI-related programs, were not made public, but are expected to emerge next week when the full House Appropriations Committee considers the bill. Continue Reading »

BIAA Roots On Servicemembers at Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride White House Kickoff

A representative of BIAA was invited to attend an event hosted by President George W. Bush on Thursday at the White House. BIAA Government Affairs Director Laura Schiebelhut was proud to be part of the inspiring event, which 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.”

Soldier Ride, sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors, including individuals with brain injury. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the return to an active lifestyle.

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.

Bill to Delay Harmful Medicaid Regulations on House Floor This Week

Please call your Representative TODAY OR TOMORROW and urge them to vote YES on H.R. 5613 - The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act - when it is considered by the House of Representatives this week.

The bill would delay the implementation of seven harmful Medicaid regulations through March 2009, including several rules which would be especially harmful to individuals with brain injury. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the bill either tomorrow (Tuesday, April 22) or the next day (Wednesday, April 23).

This week saw major activity occur on 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.  On Wednesday, the bill was unanimously approved by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, setting up a potential veto showdown with the White House.  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), last week. Continue Reading »

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 »

Also this week, on Wednesday, March 12, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) joined the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, and a variety of other advocacy groups, in successfully conducting Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill. The day’s events drew the participation of several Members of Congress and their staff.

The first event of the day was the Brain Injury Awareness Fair, which was held in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building, and featured exhibits by numerous brain injury services and advocacy organizations. BIAA’s exhibit was highlighted by a colorful display of hundreds of “brain cranes,” hand-crafted by individuals with TBI from all over the nation. More information on the Brain Crane project, including a picture of the beautiful display, is available on the homepage of BIAA’s website at www.biausa.org.

The day also featured a very well-attended Congressional Briefing on the subject of “TBI and Community Needs.” The briefing included the perspectives of returning servicemembers with TBI and their families, as well as views from the civilian perspective, and explored the need for increasing collaborative efforts between the military and civilian sectors when it comes to TBI treatment, research, and services - including community supports.

The day finished with an evening reception held in a spirit of celebration, which honored Congressional leaders on TBI issues, including Congressional Brain Injury Task Force Co-Chairs Rep. Pascrell and Rep. Platts.

Earlier this evening, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 and forwarded it on for consideration by the full Committee. The bill which was passed by the Subcommittee tonight was a slightly amended version of H.R. 1418.

The bill is now ready to be taken up by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. This is a very positive development towards the goal of getting the TBI Act reauthorized before the end of this year, and a very exciting development for Brain Injury Awareness Month!

Right at this moment, no further grassroots activity is needed, but please stay tuned to BIAA for more information as things move forward.