[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 103 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 1, 1994]


 
              SUPPORT FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (S. 725)

                                 ______


                           HON. JIM SLATTERY

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 1994

  Mr. SLATTERY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Chairman Waxman 
and Chairman Dingell, who have worked diligently on the Minority Health 
Improvement Act (H.R. 3869), which included the House version of the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Act (H.R. 3121). This legislation passed the 
House on May 23, 1994. I would also like to thank Senator Kennedy for 
his work on the Traumatic Brain Injury Act in the Senate (S. 725), 
which is the legislation we are considering under suspension of the 
rules today.
  I strongly support this legislation. I introduced a similar bill in 
the House (H.R. 3121), along with Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Pallone and Mr. 
Quillen, because I believed it was extremely important to provide 
funding for research and prevention and for the establishment of 
programs related to traumatic brain injury [TBI]. I believe that TBI 
Act would provide States the opportunity to access Federal funds that 
are necessary for expanding the additional services statewide. I am 
pleased to see that the Traumatic Brain Injury Act will now be 
authorized so that we can begin to focus our efforts on appropriations 
for this very important program.
  In human and economic terms, traumatic brain injury is one of the 
most devastating injuries a person can sustain. Rehabilitative 
treatment interventions must be significantly improved in order to 
adequately address the complexity of the medical consequences 
associated with traumatic brain injury. Survivors of TBI are among the 
most underserved populations in our country, often receiving incorrect 
diagnoses and inappropriate treatment, and sometimes no treatment at 
all. Survivors of severe TBI are often inappropriately institutionized 
solely in order to receive subsistence care. In addition, families of 
survivors of TBI often have no other choice but to institutionalize 
their loved ones in lieu of home and community-based programs.

  The economic consequences of TBI are no less significant than the 
human costs. With over 500,000 individuals who require hospitalization 
per year due to head injuries, society incurs $25 billion per year in 
direct and indirect costs of medical treatment, rehabilitative and 
support services, and lost income. Estimated lifetime costs to care for 
a survivor of severe traumatic brain injury can exceed $4 million.
  The Traumatic Brain Injury Act addresses these problems by enhancing 
public awareness of head injury prevention. This legislation will help 
raise public awareness of the serious risks and tragic consequences of 
head injuries and will designate a Federal agency to oversee and 
promote projects to prevent traumatic brain injury and to assist in 
rehabilitation efforts across the Nation.
  The legislation will assist States in creating advisory boards to 
coordinate citizen participation in community traumatic brain injury 
programs and will create a registry to advance epidemiologic research 
efforts across the Nation. This bill also calls for major studies to be 
conducted on the causes and prevention of brain injury. It also 
emphasizes the discovery and use of unique ways to prevent injury and 
heighten individual responsibility.

  The Traumatic Brain Injury Act, which emphasizes prevention and 
treatment options, will help these individuals and their families cope 
with the debilitating and lifelong consequences of these tragic 
accidents.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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