[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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