III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. CON. RES. 20 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 17, 2005 Mr. Cochran (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 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 a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the United States; Whereas at least 1,400,000 people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury each year; Whereas each year, more than 80,000 people in the United States sustain permanent life-long disabilities from a traumatic brain injury, that can include the serious physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments; Whereas every 21 seconds, a person in the United States sustains a traumatic brain injury; Whereas at least 5,300,000 people in the United States currently live with permanent disabilities resulting from a traumatic brain injury; Whereas most cases of traumatic brain injury are preventable; Whereas traumatic brain injuries cost the Nation $56,300,000,000 annually; 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 toward enhancing public awareness of traumatic brain injury; and Whereas the Brain Injury Association of America has recognized March as Brain Injury Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) recognizes the life-altering impact traumatic brain injury may have both on people 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 people of the United States to observe National Brain Injury Awareness Month with appropriate programs and activities.