[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5290-H5291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DENNIS JOHN BENIGNO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT 
                                OF 2024

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 7208) to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury program, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7208

       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 ``Dennis John Benigno 
     Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. THE BILL PASCRELL, JR., NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR 
                   TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SURVEILLANCE AND 
                   REGISTRIES.

       Section 393C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280b-1d) is amended--
       (1) by amending the section header to read as follows: 
     ``the bill pascrell, jr., national program for traumatic 
     brain injury surveillance and registries''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (b).

     SEC. 3. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INJURIES.

       Section 394A(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280b-3(b)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 
     2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.

     SEC. 4. 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 (c)(1), by striking ``that is not less 
     than $1 for each $2 of Federal funds provided under the 
     grant.'' and inserting the following: ``that is--
       ``(A) for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, not less than $1 
     for each $2 of Federal funds provided under the grant; and
       ``(B) for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year, 
     not less than $0.50 for each $2 of Federal funds provided 
     under the grant.'';
       (2) by striking subsection (e);
       (3) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as 
     subsections (e) through (h), respectively;
       (4) by amending subsection (g)(2), as so redesignated, to 
     read as follows:
       ``(2)(A) The term `traumatic brain injury' means an 
     acquired injury to the brain.
       ``(B) Such term--
       ``(i) does not include brain dysfunction caused by 
     congenital or degenerative disorders, nor birth trauma; and

[[Page H5291]]

       ``(ii) may include--

       ``(I) brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma; and
       ``(II) damage to the brain from an internal or external 
     source that results in toxicity, surgery, or vascular 
     disorders not associated with aging.

       ``(C) 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
       (5) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal 
     years 2025 through 2029''.

     SEC. 5. STATE GRANTS FOR PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES.

       Section 1253(l) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300d-53(l)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 
     through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 
     2029''.

     SEC. 6. REPORT ON DESIGNATING BRAIN INJURY AS A CHRONIC 
                   CONDITION.

       The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
     the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, shall--
       (1) examine the evidence base for designating brain injury 
     as a chronic condition that can impact individuals with brain 
     injury across the lifespan; and
       (2) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act--
       (A) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report 
     detailing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of 
     the examination described in paragraph (1); and
       (B) make publicly available on the website of the Centers 
     for Disease Control and Prevention the report described in 
     subparagraph (A).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. 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 material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7208, the Dennis John Benigno 
Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024 led by 
Congressman Bill Pascrell.
  This bill will continue important resources for TBI prevention, help 
improve access to TBI rehabilitation, and support TBI patient advocacy 
systems.
  From 2020 to 2021, there were over 200,000 TBI-related 
hospitalizations and almost 70,000 deaths. People 75 and older had the 
highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths.
  Recent data suggests that over 1.5 million Americans survive a 
traumatic brain injury each year. TBIs can impact a person's life in 
many ways, putting patients at increased risk for depression, falls, 
and permanent cognitive decline.
  This legislation would continue resources to help support States and 
other entities to ensure providers and patients are educated on the 
incidence of TBIs and improve methods to treat and prevent such 
incidents.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7208, the Dennis John Benigno 
Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act.
  This bill was long championed by the late New Jersey Congressman Bill 
Pascrell. It reauthorizes a critical grant program to States through 
the Administration for Community Living, as well as data collection, 
surveillance, and analysis through the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
  Before I talk about the importance of the bill, I want to take a 
moment to talk about our dear friend and colleague, Representative Bill 
Pascrell, Jr., who served here in this House for 27 years. He truly was 
the first son of Paterson and left an indelible mark on north Jersey 
throughout his public service career as a mayor, a public 
schoolteacher, an assemblyman, and a Congressman.
  Simply put, he never, ever backed down from doing what was right and 
was always fighting for the little guy. So it is fitting today that we 
are considering legislation that he was extremely passionate about and 
embodied his tenacious spirit in supporting policies that made an 
impact in all of our communities.
  First enacted in 1996 thanks to the tireless advocacy of 
Representative Pascrell, this law was the only Federal program which 
specifically addressed TBI prevention, research, and service delivery 
through grants to States.
  Today, I am proud that this legislation will bear the names of two 
fierce advocates in the TBI community.
  In his first term in Congress, Representative Pascrell founded the 
Congressional Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force after meeting with 
Dennis John Benigno.
  Dennis John was a 15-year-old boy who was critically injured in 1984 
after being struck by a car and suffered a severe brain injury that 
left him completely disabled. Before then, many in Congress had little 
firsthand knowledge about TBI or its forever long-term care impact on 
patients and families. This passion to share Dennis John's story and 
highlight the need of TBI research and support across the country 
became the successful law before us today.

  This legislation will not only honor the legacy and courage of the 
Benigno family but also rename the national program to bear its biggest 
congressional champion's name, the Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. 
National Program for Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance and Injury.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there 
were more than 214,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020 and more 
than 69,000 TBI-related deaths in 2021. These estimates do not include 
the many TBIs that are only treated in the emergency department, urgent 
care, primary care, or those who simply go untreated.
  I urge my colleagues to continue the support for this program and the 
research, treatment, and data surveillance counted on by the 5.3 
million people living with lifelong disabilities due to a TBI.
  I thank Chair Rodgers and Subcommittee Chair Guthrie for their 
collaboration to advance this important bipartisan bill and to forever 
honor the legacy of its greatest champions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues' support on a bipartisan basis, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1930

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support 
this in the name of both Mr. Benigno and our colleague, Bill Pascrell, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' 
vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Molinaro). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7208, 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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