[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 24, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5699-H5700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2014

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1098) to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize 
certain programs relating to traumatic brain injury and to trauma 
research, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1098

       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 
     Reauthorization Act of 2014''.

     SEC. 2. CDC PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION AND SURVEILLANCE OF 
                   TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

       (a) Prevention.--Section 393B(b)(3) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b-1c(b)(3)) is amended by striking 
     ``health-status goals for 2010, commonly referred to as 
     Healthy People 2010'' and inserting ``health-status goals for 
     2020, commonly referred to as Healthy People 2020''.
       (b) Surveillance.--Subsection (b) of section 393C of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b-1d) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(b) Not later than'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) Reports.--
       ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Subsequent report.--Not later than 24 months after 
     the date of enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury 
     Reauthorization Act of 2014, 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--
       ``(A) identifies which recommendations in the report under 
     paragraph (1) have been adopted and which recommendations in 
     such report have not been adopted; and
       ``(B) includes a description of planned activities to 
     address each recommendation in such report that has not been 
     adopted.''.
       (c) Funding.--Section 394A of the Public Health Service Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 280b-3) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after ``1994,'';
       (2) by striking the second period at the end; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following: ``Of the amounts 
     made available to carry out this part for each of fiscal 
     years 2015 through 2019, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $6,100,000 to carry out sections 393B and 
     393C.''.

     SEC. 3. STATE GRANTS FOR 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), by striking ``, acting through the 
     Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration,'';
       (2) in paragraphs (1)(A)(i) and (3)(E) of subsection (f), 
     by striking ``brain injury'' and inserting ``traumatic brain 
     injury'';
       (3) in subsection (h), by striking the comma after ``under 
     this section'' and inserting a comma before ``including''; 
     and
       (4) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
       ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--For carrying out 
     this section and section 1253, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated $9,760,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
     2019.''.

     SEC. 4. 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 subsection (a), by striking ``, acting through the 
     Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration (referred to in this section as the 
     `Administrator'),'';
       (2) in subsections (c), (d)(1), (e)(1), (e)(4), (g), (h), 
     and (j)(1), by striking ``Administrator'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``Secretary'';
       (3) in subsection (h)--
       (A) by striking the subsection heading and inserting 
     ``Reporting'';
       (B) by striking ``Each protection and advocacy system'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) Reports by systems.--Each protection and advocacy 
     system''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Report by secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury 
     Reauthorization Act of 2014, the Secretary shall prepare and 
     submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     describing the services and activities carried out under this 
     section during the period for which the report is being 
     prepared.''.
       (4) in subsection (i)--
       (A) by striking ``Administrator of the Health Resources and 
     Services Administration'' and inserting ``Secretary''; and
       (B) by striking ``by the Administrator'' and inserting ``by 
     the Secretary'';
       (5) in subsection (k), by striking ``subtitle C'' and 
     inserting ``subtitle C of title I'';
       (6) by striking subsection (l) (relating to authorization 
     of appropriations); and
       (7) by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (l).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous materials into the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1098, the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Reauthorization Act, introduced by Representative Bill 
Pascrell of New Jersey, which will continue to provide the needed 
services that help patients with a traumatic brain injury, TBI.
  More than 3.17 million Americans live with a disability that resulted 
from a TBI, including children and adults, athletes and soldiers.
  The prevention and surveillance work done at the Centers for Disease 
Control keeps the public and providers aware of TBI research that leads 
to early diagnosis and treatment.
  Research at the National Institutes of Health improves the 
understanding of TBI and identifies treatments that will improve lives. 
Programs available at the Health Resources and Services Administration 
help families to better care for their members who suffer from a TBI.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1098, the Traumatic Brain 
Injury Reauthorization Act of 2014.
  Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is an unexpected blow or a jolt to 
the head. These injuries affect people of all ages. A soldier in a 
blast injury, an elderly person who has fallen, or a young driver 
involved in a car crash can experience TBI.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate more than 2 
million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury each year.
  The vast majority of these individuals have an injury that can be 
treated at a hospital emergency room, but not

[[Page H5700]]

all Americans are as fortunate. Their injuries can have more 
devastating consequences and may result in death or lasting disability.
  The TBI program at the Department of Health and Human Services was 
first established in 1996 and has been reauthorized twice, in 2001 and, 
again, in 2008.
  The legislation before the House today, once again, reauthorizes the 
TBI program. It would extend TBI surveillance and research activities. 
It will also extend programs for TBI services and support administered 
across Health and Human Services.
  I want to commend the sponsors of the legislation, Congressman 
Pascrell and Congressman Rooney, and I also want to acknowledge the 
leadership of Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Waxman, 
and Ranking Member Pallone and the work of our committee staff in 
advancing this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee and 
bringing it to the floor today.
  I support this bipartisan bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1915

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Pascrell, my good 
friend and colleague.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the passage of 
this legislation, the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 
2014.
  I want to thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman; Chairman 
Pitts; my friend from New Jersey, Ranking Member Pallone; and Mr. Gene 
Green of Texas for their thoughtful consideration and support for 
millions of traumatic brain injury survivors and their families. 
Additionally, I want to thank my fellow cochair of the Congressional 
Brain Injury Task Force, Congressman Tom Rooney of Florida, for his 
leadership on this important issue as well.
  Throughout my 13 years working on this issue, I have witnessed 
firsthand how these programs make a difference in people's lives.
  You have heard the numbers, but let's go beyond the numbers. 
Traumatic brain injury has become the signature wound of the wars in 
Afghanistan and Iraq. Twenty percent of our soldiers deployed are 
estimated to have experienced a brain injury. Many returning 
servicemembers suffering from TBI will receive care and rehabilitation 
services within the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
  But others suffering from TBIs that are initially undiagnosed or 
misdiagnosed will later look to the civilian community and local 
resources for information and service. That is why it is essential that 
we continue to foster civilian-military collaboration, like the 
Department of Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and 
Traumatic Brain Injury, to build a system that ensures returning troops 
receive what they need to put their lives back together again.
  Unfortunately, TBI remains the silent epidemic in this country. That 
is why the legislation today is so critical.
  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 and 2008, the TBI 
Act represents a foundation for coordinated and balanced public policy 
on prevention, education, research, and community living for people 
living with TBI and their circles of support.
  And it has produced results. For nearly 18 years, the Traumatic Brain 
Injury Act has successfully provided direction and legal authority for 
the vast traumatic brain injury community.
  Grants within the TBI Act have helped States improve access to health 
and other services for persons with TBI. Prior to this law, they did 
not have the tools to even assess their own needs.
  Thanks to the TBI Act and its directive to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, we now have a record of incidents, 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, health care providers, and 
policymakers.
  Additionally, under this act, the National Institutes of Health is 
conducting basic and applied research in TBI, making great strides in 
our knowledge of the brain and the impact of TBI. Mr. Speaker, this is 
in direct correlation to the President's BRAIN Initiative. We keep on 
meeting together to explore this new horizon, which I think is going to 
dramatically have very positive consequences.
  The Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2014 will elevate 
the TBI program within Health and Human Services by moving the program 
from Maternal and Child Health's Children's Program, in acknowledgement 
of the impact of TBI across the age span, including older adults and 
returning servicemembers and veterans. Our intention is for the program 
to be relocated to the Administration on Community Living to better 
coordinate with Federal agencies regarding the long-term services and 
support available to individuals with other disabilities.
  Brain injury survivors from all walks of life, and their families, 
look to community and local resources for all types of information and 
assistance. Regardless of the source of the injury, this legislation 
will ensure the framework, the information and research resources, are 
available to help.
  Mr. Speaker, only a strong commitment will allow us to continue the 
incredible advances we have made in the area of basic brain injury: 
prevention, detection, early treatment, physical and mental 
rehabilitation, long-term care, and patient advocacy issues.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important bill.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I urge support for this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, this is another piece of important 
legislation, and it enjoys bipartisan support. I urge the Members to 
support it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1098, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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