Brain Injury Blog | Traumatic Brain Injury TBI

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 »

Last week, the House passed an omnibus veterans health care package (S. 2612), including key provisions of The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence Act (H.R. 2818/S. 2004), which BIAA has strongly endorsed.

Over the weekend, the Senate also passed this legislation and it is expected to be signed into law by the President imminently. Continue Reading »

Last week, the House passed 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.

Over the weekend, the Senate also passed this omnibus legislative package and forwarded it to President Bush, who signed it into law just hours before the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1. Continue Reading »

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 »

Also of note this week was the Department of Veterans Affairs’ publication of a Final Rule to revise the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to provide detailed and updated criteria for evaluating residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Continue Reading »

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 »

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 »

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 »

BIAA has issued a Legislative Action Alert requesting that advocates call their Senators and urge them to vote for passage of the Addressing America’s Priorities Act (S. 3297). Continue Reading »