[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2294]]
         THE CONCUSSION TREATMENT AND CARE TOOLS (ConTACT) ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2008

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure today to introduce the 
Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act. This bipartisan 
legislation provides our schools and coaches with the tools needed to 
ensure that student athletes receive the proper care for sports-related 
concussions. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation as soon as 
possible.
  On October 16, 2008, Ryne Dougherty, a 16-year-old from Montclair, 
New Jersey, tragically died from a brain hemorrhage after returning to 
play football without fully recovering from a concussion sustained 
earlier in the season. Unfortunately, this is not the first story of a 
young athlete losing his or her life early to a head injury.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, as 
many as 3.8 million concussions related to sports and recreation are 
estimated to occur in the United States each year. After sustaining one 
concussion, an athlete becomes as much as four to six times more likely 
to sustain a second concussion, and if an athlete is allowed to return 
to play without fully recovering from a concussion, they may face 
tragic consequences.
  Repeat concussions can result in cumulative neurological damage and 
have been shown to significantly worsen long-term outcomes including 
depression and other psychological problems. In rare cases, a repeat 
concussion can trigger ``second impact syndrome'' which can be marked 
by the swelling of the brain, permanent brain damage, or even death. 
Because damage to a maturing brain can be catastrophic, it is even more 
important to ensure that the proper care is provided to young athletes.
  Fortunately, repeat concussions and ``second impact syndrome'' are 
highly preventable if sensible guidelines and procedures are adopted. 
Many college and professional athletic associations--including the 
National Collegiate Athlete Association, NCAA, the National Football 
League, NFL, and the National Hockey League, (NHL)--and other national 
provider organizations--including the American Academy of Neurology, 
the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Athletic 
Trainers' Association, and the Brain Injury Association of American--
have all adopted guidelines for the management of concussions. Despite 
education efforts by CDC, however, much of this information has not 
made its way to our local middle schools and high schools.
  Furthermore, pre-season and post-concussion testing technologies are 
widely used in college and professional sports to provide a baseline 
against which coaches and providers can determine when athletes are 
ready to return to play. These technologies are widely available and 
fairly affordable at as little as $500 a year. Unfortunately, these 
tests are not commonly used in middle and high school sports.
  By providing coaches, athletes, and parents with the tools and 
information needed to identify and understand the signs, symptoms, and 
implications of concussions, we can help to prevent needless deaths and 
countless injuries. The ConTACT Act will convene experts and 
stakeholders to establish a consensus set of concussion management 
guidelines and provide states with the resources to adopt, disseminate, 
and ensure the implementation of concussion management guidelines for 
student athletes.
  Madam Speaker, Congress must act now to pass this vital piece of 
legislation, so that we may provide our young athletes with the safety 
and protections that they deserve.

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