[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 265 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 265

 Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of Traumatic Brain 
   Injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury 
                            Awareness Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2003

 Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Markey, Mr. Strickland, 
    Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. McNulty, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
    Hinchey, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Ross, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Wilson of South 
    Carolina, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Davis of 
Illinois, Mr. Goode, Mr. Holden, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Lipinski, 
Mr. Berry, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Spratt, and Mr. Payne) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of Traumatic Brain 
   Injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury 
                            Awareness Month.

Whereas Traumatic Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability 
        among children and young adults in the United States;
Whereas at least 5.3 million Americans currently live with permanent 
        disabilities resulting from a Traumatic Brain Injury;
Whereas at least 1.5 million Americans sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury each 
        year;
Whereas, each year, another 80,000 Americans sustain life-long disabilities from 
        a Traumatic Brain Injury, resulting in a life-altering experience that 
        can include the most serious physical, cognitive, and emotional 
        impairments;
Whereas every 21 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a Traumatic 
        Brain Injury;
Whereas Traumatic Brain Injuries cost the nation $48.3 billion annually, 
        consisting of $31.7 billion for hospitalization expenditures and $16.6 
        billion for fatal brain injury expenditures;
Whereas the lack of public awareness is so vast that Traumatic Brain Injury is 
        known in the disability community as the Nation's ``silent epidemic'';
Whereas the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month will work 
        towards enhancing the public awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury;
Whereas former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the month of October 1984 as 
        National Head Injury Awareness Month; and
Whereas the Brain Injury Association of America has recognized October as Brain 
        Injury Awareness Month since 1980: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress
            (1) recognizes the life-altering impact Traumatic Brain 
        Injury may have on both Americans living with the resultant 
        disabilities and on their families;
            (2) recognizes the need for enhanced public awareness of 
        Traumatic Brain Injury;
            (3) supports the designation of an appropriate month as 
        National Brain Injury Awareness Month; and
            (4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        designating such a month.
                                 <all>