[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONCUSSION TREATMENT AND CARE TOOLS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. TODD RUSSELL PLATTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House of 
Representatives Bill 1347 (H.R. 1347), the Concussion Treatment and 
Care Tools Act. I am honored to have joined with my fellow cochair of 
the Congressional Traumatic Brain Injury Taskforce, Representative Bill 
Pascrell, in introducing this important legislation that aims to make 
significant progress in protecting student athletes from brain 
injuries.
  It is estimated that as many as 41 percent of high school athletes 
who suffer from concussions return to play too soon. The consequences 
of this practice are extremely dangerous, as suffering a second 
concussion before an existing head injury has time to heal can lead to 
brain swelling, permanent brain damage and even death. However, when 
students, coaches and athletic trainers are provided the proper 
training in prevention, detection, and management, these instances can 
largely be prevented. As such, the bill we are considering today 
provides States with the tools needed to adopt and disseminate 
concussion management guidelines for school-sponsored sports. In 
addition, the bill would fund schools' implementation of computerized 
pre-season baseline and post-injury neuropsychological testing for 
student athletes to determine the severity of each injury. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1347 and making significant 
gains in protecting high school student-athletes.