[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2041-H2045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ACT OF 2008
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 793) to provide for the expansion and improvement of
traumatic brain injury programs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:
S. 793
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Traumatic Brain Injury Act
of 2008''.
SEC. 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO RESTRUCTURING.
Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1c)
relating to the use of allotments for rape prevention
education, as section 393A and moving such section so that it
follows section 393;
(2) by redesignating existing section 393A (42 U.S.C.
280b-1b) relating to prevention of traumatic brain injury, as
section 393B; and
(3) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1d)
relating to traumatic brain injury registries, as section
393C.
SEC. 3. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
(a) Prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury.--Clause (ii) of
section 393B(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, as so
redesignated, (42 U.S.C. 280b-1b) is amended by
[[Page H2042]]
striking ``from hospitals and trauma centers'' and inserting
``from hospitals and emergency departments''.
(b) National Program for Traumatic Brain Injury
Surveillance and Registries.--Section 393C of the Public
Health Service Act, as so redesignated, (42 U.S.C. 280b et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``surveillance
and'' after ``national program for traumatic brain injury'';
and
(2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``may make grants'' and all that follows
through ``to collect data concerning--'' and inserting ``may
make grants to States or their designees to develop or
operate the State's traumatic brain injury surveillance
system or registry to determine the incidence and prevalence
of traumatic brain injury and related disability, to ensure
the uniformity of reporting under such system or registry, to
link individuals with traumatic brain injury to services and
supports, and to link such individuals with academic
institutions to conduct applied research that will support
the development of such surveillance systems and registries
as may be necessary. A surveillance system or registry under
this section shall provide for the collection of data
concerning--''.
(c) Report.--Section 393C of the Public Health Service
Act (as so redesignated) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(b) Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, the
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the
National Institutes of Health and in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report
that contains the findings derived from an evaluation
concerning activities and procedures that can be implemented
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve
the collection and dissemination of compatible
epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of
traumatic brain injury in individuals who were formerly in
the military. The report shall include recommendations on the
manner in which such agencies can further collaborate on the
development and improvement of traumatic brain injury
diagnostic tools and treatments.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
393C, as so redesignated, the following:
``SEC. 393C-1. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
``(a) Study.--The Secretary, acting through the Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with
respect to paragraph (1) and in consultation with the
Director of the National Institutes of Health and other
appropriate entities with respect to paragraphs (2), (3), and
(4), may conduct a study with respect to traumatic brain
injury for the purpose of carrying out the following:
``(1) In collaboration with appropriate State and local
health-related agencies--
``(A) determining the incidence of traumatic brain injury
and prevalence of traumatic brain injury related disability
and the clinical aspects of the disability in all age groups
and racial and ethnic minority groups in the general
population of the United States, including institutional
settings, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities,
psychiatric hospitals, child care facilities, and residential
institutes for people with developmental disabilities; and
``(B) reporting national trends in traumatic brain
injury.
``(2) Identifying common therapeutic interventions which
are used for the rehabilitation of individuals with such
injuries, and, subject to the availability of information,
including an analysis of--
``(A) the effectiveness of each such intervention in
improving the functioning, including return to work or school
and community participation, of individuals with brain
injuries;
``(B) the comparative effectiveness of interventions
employed in the course of rehabilitation of individuals with
brain injuries to achieve the same or similar clinical
outcome; and
``(C) the adequacy of existing measures of outcomes and
knowledge of factors influencing differential outcomes.
``(3) Identifying interventions and therapies that can
prevent or remediate the development of secondary neurologic
conditions related to traumatic brain injury.
``(4) Developing practice guidelines for the
rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury at such time as
appropriate scientific research becomes available.
``(b) Dates Certain for Reports.--If the study is
conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not
later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, submit to Congress a
report describing findings made as a result of carrying out
such subsection (a).
``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term
`traumatic brain injury' means an acquired injury to the
brain. Such term does not include brain dysfunction caused by
congenital or degenerative disorders, nor birth trauma, but
may include brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma
including near drowning. The Secretary may revise the
definition of such term as the Secretary determines
necessary.''.
SEC. 5. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
Section 1261 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300d-61) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``Labor and Human
Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions'';
(2) in subparagraph (D) of subsection (d)(4), by striking
``head brain injury'' and inserting ``brain injury''; and
(3) in subsection (i), by inserting ``, and such sums as
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through
2012'' before the period at the end.
SEC. 6. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE HEALTH
RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.
(a) State Grants for Demonstration Projects Regarding
Traumatic Brain Injury.--Section 1252 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-52) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``may make grants to States'' and
inserting ``may make grants to States and American Indian
consortia''; and
(B) by striking ``health and other services'' and
inserting ``rehabilitation and other services'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraphs (1), (3)(A)(i), (3)(A)(iii), and
(3)(A)(iv), by striking the term ``State'' each place such
term appears and inserting the term ``State or American
Indian consortium''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``recommendations to
the State'' and inserting ``recommendations to the State or
American Indian consortium'';
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking the term ``State''
each place such term appears and inserting ``State or
American Indian consortium'';
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ``A State that
received'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``A State or American Indian consortium that
received a grant under this section prior to the date of the
enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 may
complete the activities funded by the grant.'';
(5) in subsection (f)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
American Indian Consortium'' after ``State'';
(B) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), paragraph (1)(E), paragraph (2)(A), paragraph (2)(B),
paragraph (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
paragraph (3)(E), and paragraph (3)(F), by striking the term
``State'' each place such term appears and inserting ``State
or American Indian consortium''; and
(C) in clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(A), by striking
``children and other individuals'' and inserting ``children,
youth, and adults'';
(6) in subsection (h)--
(A) by striking ``Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary'' and
inserting ``Not less than biennially, the Secretary'';
(B) by striking ``Commerce of the House of
Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and Human
Resources'' and inserting ``Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives, and to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
(C) by inserting ``and section 1253'' after ``programs
established under this section,'';
(7) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
``(i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) The terms `American Indian consortium' and `State'
have the meanings given to those terms in section 1253.
``(2) The term `traumatic brain injury' means an acquired
injury to the brain. Such term does not include brain
dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders,
nor birth trauma, but may include brain injuries caused by
anoxia due to trauma. The Secretary may revise the definition
of such term as the Secretary determines necessary, after
consultation with States and other appropriate public or
nonprofit private entities.''; and
(8) in subsection (j), by inserting ``, and such sums as
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through
2012'' before the period.
(b) State Grants for Protection and Advocacy Services.--
Section 1253 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300d-53) is amended--
(1) in subsections (d) and (e), by striking the term
``subsection (i)'' each place such term appears and inserting
``subsection (l)'';
(2) in subsection (g), by inserting ``each fiscal year
not later than October 1,'' before ``the Administrator shall
pay'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as
subsections (l) and (m), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:
``(i) Data Collection.--The Administrator of the Health
Resources and Services Administration and the Commissioner of
the Administration on Developmental Disabilities shall enter
into an agreement to coordinate the collection of data by the
Administrator and the Commissioner regarding protection and
advocacy services.
``(j) Training and Technical Assistance.--
``(1) Grants.--For any fiscal year for which the amount
appropriated to carry out this section is $6,000,000 or
greater, the Administrator shall use 2 percent of such amount
to make a grant to an eligible national association for
providing for training
[[Page H2043]]
and technical assistance to protection and advocacy systems.
``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `eligible
national association' means a national association with
demonstrated experience in providing training and technical
assistance to protection and advocacy systems.
``(k) System Authority.--In providing services under this
section, a protection and advocacy system shall have the same
authorities, including access to records, as such system
would have for purposes of providing services under subtitle
C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000.''; and
(5) in subsection (l) (as redesignated by this
subsection) by striking ``2002 through 2005'' and inserting
``2009 through 2012''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the Senate bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate bill, S. 793, the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, to authorize research and public
health activities relating to trauma and traumatic brain injury. The
version of the bill we are considering today represents bipartisan and
bicameral consensus.
The purpose of S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, is to
authorize funding for research, treatment, surveillance and education
activities related to trauma and traumatic brain injury at the National
Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reauthorizing the
traumatic brain injury program will strengthen the goal of
understanding and addressing traumatic brain injury and strengthen our
commitment to all those who experience traumatic brain injury.
I want to acknowledge my friend the gentleman from New Jersey,
Congressman Bill Pascrell, for his incredible leadership in the House
on this important matter. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to join me in its support.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise to join my colleague in support of S. 793, the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008. This legislation reauthorizes
important grant programs, which assist States, territories, and the
District of Columbia in establishing and expanding coordinated services
of community-based services and support for those with traumatic brain
injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries, TBI, can happen to anyone, and occur when
someone experiences brain damage from externally inflicted trauma to
the head. While these injuries can impact children, teenagers and
adults, TBI has been described as the signature wound of the war in
Iraq.
This legislation, first authorized in 1996, was reauthorized in 2000.
With the large number of troops returning from the battlefield
afflicted by this injury, it is important that we continue the
activities authorized by this legislation.
The bill ensures that we are working to improve treatment through
research at the National Institutes of Health and are able to gather
information about the incidence of TBI and the prevalence of TBI-
related disability.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important effort.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished
gentlewoman from Wisconsin. I would like to also thank Chairman Dingell
and Chairman Pallone for their thoughtful consideration and support for
millions of TBI survivors and their families. But I personally want to
thank my friend from Pennsylvania, Congressman Todd Platts, for his
leadership on this important issue. He has shown true sensitivity, and
as cochair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, families all
through America could not have a better friend than Todd Platts.
I have witnessed firsthand, Madam Speaker, how these programs make a
difference in people's lives. Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause
of death and disability in young Americans, as well as being the
signature injury of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Every 21 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a
traumatic brain injury. That adds up to 1.4 million TBIs each year.
About half of these cases result in at least short-term disability, and
about 50,000 people die as a result of these injuries. Eighty thousand
people sustain severe brain injuries leading to long-term disability.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates there are 5.3 million
Americans who are living with long-term severe disability as a result
of brain injury. The national cost is estimated at $60 billion
annually.
The statistics involving brain injury are increasing even more now
that reports show that traumatic brain injuries account for 14 to 20
percent of the casualties for those who survive combat in Iraq. As of 3
months ago, Madam Speaker, 30,327 servicemembers have been wounded in
Iraq. Two-thirds of those, approximately 20,000, have had injuries
during this war affecting the brain.
We are in truly a very important time in history. The brain is the
last frontier of science. Many returning servicemembers suffering from
TBI will receive excellent care and rehabilitation services within the
Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. But others
suffering TBI that are initially undiagnosed or misdiagnosed will later
look to the civilian community and local resources for information and
services, especially those who serve in the National Guard and
Reserves.
That is why it is essential that we continue to foster collaboration
between the civilian and the military, like the Department of Defense
Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain
Injury. My good friend Colonel Sutton has done a fantastic job there to
build a system that ensures returning troops receive what they need to
put their lives back together again.
Unfortunately, TBI remains a silent epidemic in the United States of
America. That is why the legislation today, Madam Speaker, is so
important. The TBI Act is the only legislation that specifically
allocates Federal funds for programs supporting individuals with brain
injury.
Originally passed in 1996 and reauthorized in 2000, the TBI Act
represents a foundation for coordinated and balanced public policy in
prevention, education and research and community living for people
living with TBI and their circles of support, many times forgotten as
well. It has produced results. For 10 years, the Traumatic Brain Injury
Act was successfully providing direction and legal authority for the
vast brain injury community in the United States. The act was not
designed to provide direct care to persons with TBI, but rather to
inform.
The Health Resources and Services Administration grants within the
TBI Act have helped States to improve access to health and other
services for persons with TBI. Prior to the 1996 law, they did not have
the tools to even access their own needs. Thanks to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, we now have a record of incidence,
including details and prevalence, plans for prevention, and, finally,
access to treatment. We have also begun to educate the public and
provide much-needed scientific data for our scientists, our health care
providers and policymakers.
Madam Speaker, I cannot tell you how crucial this is to those who
have TBI folks within their family. This is serious business. They have
to live with it as well.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
Ms. BALDWIN. I would yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
[[Page H2044]]
Funds would be authorized for the fiscal years 2009 to 2012. It
authorizes several new studies, including a study from the CBC and NIH
to not only determine the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain
injury, but to identify common therapeutic interventions and develop
rehabilitation guidelines. It establishes a study in collaboration with
the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to identify the best
methods of coordinating prevalence data in order to ensure that
national research takes into account the incidence of brain injuries
among our Nation's veterans and that current information about
diagnostic tools and treatments are shared.
Madam Speaker, only a strong commitment from the folks here and on
the other side of this building is going to continue the incredible
advances we have made in the area of basic brain research with
prevention, with detection and with early treatment, physical and
mental rehabilitation, long-term care and patient advocacy.
I urge my colleagues to join with many of us on both sides of the
aisle. I again thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Todd Platt, for
his great work.
{time} 1615
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield to one of
the real leaders who has kept this issue moving through this Congress,
Todd Platts from Pennsylvania, and I yield the gentleman 5 minutes.
Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 793, which, as
was well delineated, reauthorizes this very important legislation, the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
I am honored to join with Representative Bill Pascrell in introducing
the House version of this legislation, which expands support systems
for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. As the
gentleman from New Jersey referenced, for the past 3 years, I have had
the privilege of serving with him as cochair of the Congressional TBI
Task Force.
I am pleased to recognize my distinguished colleague from New Jersey
for his tremendous leadership and dedication related to TBI research
and treatments over the course of many years. I have been delighted to
serve as cochair for 3 years, but, long before that, the gentleman from
New Jersey has been leading this effort and been a real champion of the
importance of this work. I have been honored to work with the gentleman
from New Jersey to bring awareness to the unique issues that surround
TBI, such as frequent misdiagnoses and barriers to adequate and
meaningful treatments.
Most Americans do not fully understand the amount of devastation
caused by TBI each year. Most people do not realize that the incidence
of TBI is greater than the incidence of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS,
multiple sclerosis and spinal injuries combined.
Additionally, TBIs can manifest themselves in various manners, from a
small behavioral change to complete physical disability and even death.
Brain injuries affect the whole family emotionally and financially,
often resulting in substantial medical and rehabilitation expenses.
The TBI Act of 1996 produced extensive research at the National
Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
regarding the incidence, detection and diagnosis of TBI. The time has
come to better use these results and translate them into more extensive
treatments. This is an important part of what Senate bill 793 aims to
do.
In addition to expanding the research of NIH and CDC, this
legislation will build on the support systems that States have already
implemented to increase the independence and productivity of
individuals living with TBI.
Soldiers returning from Iraq have brought much-needed attention to
the variety of symptoms associated with TBI. Thanks to the state-of-
the-art body armor with which our men and women overseas are equipped,
these heroic individuals are able to survive violent attacks while
receiving blunt force to the head. Studies have found that over 60
percent of all soldiers wounded in an explosion, vehicle accidents,
gunshot wound to the head or neck sustain a traumatic brain injury.
This legislation provides additional support for States to integrate
veterans into community-based treatments after these heroes return home
from combat.
This is a bill aimed at helping individuals who, due to traumatic
experiences, may never live their lives the same way again. Senate bill
793 builds on current research and support systems to help vulnerable
individuals lead a more comfortable, productive and independent life.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and, I,
again, commend my colleague from New Jersey for his great leadership in
advancing this cause.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to my
colleague on the Health Subcommittee, the gentlelady from California
(Mrs. Capps).
Mrs. CAPPS. I want to thank my colleague for yielding to me.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 793, the
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008. I want to commend the leaders of
the bill in the House who have spoken already. This version of the bill
we are considering today represents bipartisan and bicameral consensus.
It would fund, as we have heard, important research, treatment,
surveillance and educational activities related to trauma and traumatic
brain injury, commonly known now as TBI. The funding would support
ongoing efforts at the National Institutes of Health, which are so
important, and also the Health Resources and Services Administration
and the CDC.
Reauthorizing this program will strengthen the goal of understanding
and addressing TBI and strengthening our capacity to treat it. This
current war has made us all too much familiar with the devastating
effects of TBI and the importance of coordinated interventions to treat
it. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan underscored the importance of this
legislation, but by no means do these situations only arise in times of
war.
We know that traumatic brain injury has been occurring all along with
all kinds of traumas, traumas to the head and sometimes unsuspected
injury that can result from other traumas. And so we need to, for a
variety of reasons, pass this legislation and get this bill signed into
law.
I want to acknowledge my friend and colleague Congressman Bill
Pascrell and also Congressman Platts from Pennsylvania. This leadership
has brought us to this point. I know that our Health Subcommittee is
pleased to be a part of this legislation.
I urge, strongly, our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join
in supporting Senate bill 793.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time and urge adoption of the bill.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time and
would also commend my colleagues to join me in support of this
legislation.
Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 793, the
Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act. S. 793 is the Senate
companion to H.R. 1418, a bill that I cosponsored to amend the Public
Health Service Act to reauthorize and improve our efforts to combat and
treat traumatic brain injury, TBI, at the Federal and State levels. As
a member of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, this issue is
near and dear to my heart, and I am proud that we are debating this
important legislation today.
Of troops wounded in Iraq 62 percent have sustained TBI, compared to
a rate closer to 20 percent in previous conflicts. Overall in the U.S.,
there are about 1.5 million civilian cases of traumatic brain injury
each year. I have worked hard to make researching and fighting TBI a
priority and, in particular, the relationship between TBI and epilepsy.
Traumatic brain injury, TBI, causes epilepsy in up to 30 percent of
civilians and 50 percent of military head injuries, greatly
exacerbating chronic neurological disability. TBI is particularly
problematic for soldiers currently serving or recently returned from
Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 1996, members of Congress passed the Traumatic Brain Injury Act,
which amended the Public Health Service Act to increase resources
available to research on traumatic brain injury. Today, we have the
opportunity to reauthorize and amend this act to include a broader
spectrum of traumatic brain injury programs, especially those at the
State level.
An expansion and improvement of our traumatic brain injury programs
will serve those in
[[Page H2045]]
this country who suffer from the condition, while providing
opportunities for research and development of programs to better
prevent and detect traumatic brain injuries.
Madam Speaker, traumatic brain injuries affect families across
America, and we must continue to invest in programs to prevent, detect,
and treat these injuries. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me
in voting in favor of this important legislation.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the
reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, is a leading cause of death and
disability in young Americans. Approximately 1.4 million people sustain
a TBI each year in the United States. The most common causes of TBI are
falls, traffic accidents, and assault. These brain injuries result in
short-term or long-term disabilities and can severely impact how people
live their lives.
Congress took an important step in 1996 by passing the Traumatic
Brain Injury Act to promote brain injury research, education,
treatment, and prevention. It is the only Federal law that specifically
addresses the issues faced by persons with brain injury. This law has
successfully improved access to health care and other services for
individuals with TBI. Without the TBI Act, State governments and these
individuals would be left to their own devices.
More recently, we have seen an increasing number of traumatic brain
injuries in servicemembers returning home from combat operations. The
programs in the TBI Act can help the thousands of troops wounded in
combat and suffering from brain injury. We have an obligation to assist
these soldiers, and I am proud that Congress has provided funding in
the recent appropriations bill to address TBI in returning personnel.
The reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act builds on the
success of the original 1996 law by continuing to educate the public
and provide much needed data on TBI for scientists, health care
providers, and policy makers. I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of
National Public Health Week and the health bills that the House will
debate today. It is important that we recognize and build on quality
public health programs that affect every aspect of our lives--from
effective childhood vaccination programs, to early screening programs
for diseases, to ensuring that Americans have access to critical
treatment programs.
Access to quality, affordable health care is critical to the well-
being of our country, today and in the future. With 46 million
uninsured--9 million of whom are children--we need to focus on
strengthening the Medicare system, providing increased access to
quality health care programs and ensuring that our low-income children
and families have health insurance.
During my tenure in the Virginia General Assembly, I introduced a
number of bills that focused on child and maternal health, preventive
screenings for hearing and immunizations for children against certain
diseases. The need for these services was vital to the health of the
citizens not only of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but also to our
Nation as a whole and continues to help our most vulnerable today.
Madam Speaker, there continues to be an urgent need for expanded
health care coverage and increased access to health care for children,
seniors and low-income individuals. Because of this need, I introduced
H.R. 1688, The All Healthy Children Act. The All Healthy Children Act,
endorsed by the Children's Defense Fund, is a logical, smart and
achievable incremental next step to close the child coverage gap and
guarantees all children have access to the health coverage that they
need to survive, thrive and learn. This proposal would ensure that all
children are covered by expanding the coverage of both the Medicaid and
SCHIP programs while eliminating procedural red tape that currently
prevents many children from being covered under either program. This
comprehensive program would include all basic health care and
preventive testing as well as coverage for mental health and prenatal
care.
The bills that we will vote on today will also help to provide our
medical community the tools necessary to improve lives through
prevention, research and treatment of disease. For example:
The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program is a critical
CDC program intended to identify and help infants with hearing loss.
This bill reauthorizes funding and expands the program to provide
screening and intervention services for young children. We know that
the earlier hearing problems are identified, the more effective the
medical services can be.
The Wakefield Act is designed to improve emergency medical services
for children needing trauma or critical care.
The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act educates parents and health
care providers about newborn health screening, improves follow-up care
for infants with an illness detected through newborn screening, and
helps States expand and improve their newborn screening programs. Many
diseases and conditions which can be cured when detected early can lead
to permanent disabilities if not detected in time.
The Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act is designed to improve the
analysis of tests for cervical cancer by ensuring that health care
professionals who read tests for cervical cancer are skilled in today's
medical technology. It modernizes the cervical cancer testing program
by requiring continuing medical education for pathologists to assess
their diagnostic skills and ensure they keep up with the latest
practices.
The Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act launches a comprehensive
preventative care program to reduce the number and severity of falls by
the elderly. It directs HHS to implement directives to reduce falls,
including improving the identification of seniors who have a high risk
of falling; supporting education campaigns focused on reducing and
preventing falls and on educating health professionals about fall risk,
assessment and prevention; and conducting research to reduce falls.
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act will help schools
deal with food allergies among their student population by requiring
the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Department of Education, to develop a policy for schools on appropriate
management and emergency plans for children with food allergies and
anaphylaxis. The policy would be provided to schools within 1 year
after enactment, and schools could voluntarily implement the policy.
The bill also authorizes HHS to award grants to local school districts
to help them in implementing the policy.
The House amendment to the Traumatic Brain Injury Act authorizes the
Centers for Disease Control, CDC, to provide State grants for patients
with traumatic brain injury to enter treatment and rehabilitation
programs. The thousands of brain injury survivors who are returning
home from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are joining the 5.3 million
similarly afflicted Americans here at home. Indeed, TBI is the leading
cause of death and disability among young Americans. The legislation
would require the CDC to monitor brain injury incidents and create a
reporting system to track the condition. It also directs CDC to study
treatment techniques and NIH to conduct basic research to improve
treatment.
Madam Speaker, action on these critical issues is imperative to meet
the pressing health care concerns of our Nation. I urge my colleagues
to support these bills.
Ms. BALDWIN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 793, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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