[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5394-5398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ACT OF 2008

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 793) to provide for the expansion and improvement of 
traumatic brain injury programs, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                 S. 793

         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 Act 
     of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO RESTRUCTURING.

         Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended--
         (1) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1c) 
     relating to the use of allotments for rape prevention 
     education, as section 393A and moving such section so that it 
     follows section 393;
         (2) by redesignating existing section 393A (42 U.S.C. 
     280b-1b) relating to prevention of traumatic brain injury, as 
     section 393B; and
         (3) by redesignating the section 393B (42 U.S.C. 280b-1d) 
     relating to traumatic brain injury registries, as section 
     393C.

     SEC. 3. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE CENTERS FOR 
                   DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

         (a) Prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury.--Clause (ii) of 
     section 393B(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, as so 
     redesignated, (42 U.S.C. 280b-1b) is amended by striking 
     ``from hospitals and trauma centers'' and inserting ``from 
     hospitals and emergency departments''.
         (b) National Program for Traumatic Brain Injury 
     Surveillance and Registries.--Section 393C of the Public 
     Health Service Act, as so redesignated, (42 U.S.C. 280b et 
     seq.) is amended--
         (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``surveillance 
     and'' after ``national program for traumatic brain injury''; 
     and
         (2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by striking ``may make grants'' and all that follows 
     through ``to collect data concerning--'' and inserting ``may 
     make grants to States or their designees to develop or 
     operate the State's traumatic brain injury surveillance 
     system or registry to determine the incidence and prevalence 
     of traumatic brain injury and related disability, to ensure 
     the uniformity of reporting under such system or registry, to 
     link individuals with traumatic brain injury to services and 
     supports, and to link such individuals with academic 
     institutions to conduct applied research that will support 
     the development of such surveillance systems and registries 
     as may be necessary. A surveillance system or registry under 
     this section shall provide for the collection of data 
     concerning--''.
         (c) Report.--Section 393C of the Public Health Service 
     Act (as so redesignated) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
         ``(b) Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, 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 contains the findings derived from an evaluation 
     concerning activities and procedures that can be implemented 
     by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve 
     the collection and dissemination of compatible 
     epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of 
     traumatic brain injury in individuals who were formerly in 
     the military. The report shall include recommendations on the 
     manner in which such agencies can further collaborate on the 
     development and improvement of traumatic brain injury 
     diagnostic tools and treatments.''.

     SEC. 4. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

         Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     393C, as so redesignated, the following:

     ``SEC. 393C-1. STUDY ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

         ``(a) Study.--The Secretary, acting through the Director 
     of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with 
     respect to paragraph (1) and in consultation with the 
     Director of the National Institutes of Health and other 
     appropriate entities with respect to paragraphs (2), (3), and 
     (4), may conduct a study with respect to traumatic brain 
     injury for the purpose of carrying out the following:
         ``(1) In collaboration with appropriate State and local 
     health-related agencies--
         ``(A) determining the incidence of traumatic brain injury 
     and prevalence of traumatic brain injury related disability 
     and the clinical aspects of the disability in all age groups 
     and racial and ethnic minority groups in the general 
     population of the United States, including institutional 
     settings, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities, 
     psychiatric hospitals, child care facilities, and residential 
     institutes for people with developmental disabilities; and
         ``(B) reporting national trends in traumatic brain 
     injury.
         ``(2) Identifying common therapeutic interventions which 
     are used for the rehabilitation of individuals with such 
     injuries, and, subject to the availability of information, 
     including an analysis of--
         ``(A) the effectiveness of each such intervention in 
     improving the functioning, including return to work or school 
     and community participation, of individuals with brain 
     injuries;
         ``(B) the comparative effectiveness of interventions 
     employed in the course of rehabilitation of individuals with 
     brain injuries to achieve the same or similar clinical 
     outcome; and
         ``(C) the adequacy of existing measures of outcomes and 
     knowledge of factors influencing differential outcomes.
         ``(3) Identifying interventions and therapies that can 
     prevent or remediate the development of secondary neurologic 
     conditions related to traumatic brain injury.
         ``(4) Developing practice guidelines for the 
     rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury at such time as 
     appropriate scientific research becomes available.
         ``(b) Dates Certain for Reports.--If the study is 
     conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not 
     later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the 
     Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, submit to Congress a 
     report describing findings made as a result of carrying out 
     such subsection (a).
         ``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     `traumatic brain injury' means an acquired injury to the 
     brain. Such term does not include brain dysfunction caused by 
     congenital or degenerative disorders, nor birth trauma, but 
     may include brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma 
     including near drowning. The Secretary may revise the 
     definition of such term as the Secretary determines 
     necessary.''.

     SEC. 5. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL 
                   INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

         Section 1261 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     300d-61) is amended--
         (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``Labor and Human 
     Resources'' and inserting ``Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions'';

[[Page 5395]]

         (2) in subparagraph (D) of subsection (d)(4), by striking 
     ``head brain injury'' and inserting ``brain injury''; and
         (3) in subsection (i), by inserting ``, and such sums as 
     may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
     2012'' before the period at the end.

     SEC. 6. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PROGRAMS OF THE HEALTH 
                   RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) State Grants for Demonstration 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)--
         (A) by striking ``may make grants to States'' and 
     inserting ``may make grants to States and American Indian 
     consortia''; and
         (B) by striking ``health and other services'' and 
     inserting ``rehabilitation and other services'';
         (2) in subsection (b)--
         (A) in paragraphs (1), (3)(A)(i), (3)(A)(iii), and 
     (3)(A)(iv), by striking the term ``State'' each place such 
     term appears and inserting the term ``State or American 
     Indian consortium''; and
         (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``recommendations to 
     the State'' and inserting ``recommendations to the State or 
     American Indian consortium'';
         (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking the term ``State'' 
     each place such term appears and inserting ``State or 
     American Indian consortium'';
         (4) in subsection (e), by striking ``A State that 
     received'' and all that follows through the period and 
     inserting ``A State or American Indian consortium that 
     received a grant under this section prior to the date of the 
     enactment of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008 may 
     complete the activities funded by the grant.'';
         (5) in subsection (f)--
         (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
     American Indian Consortium'' after ``State'';
         (B) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), paragraph (1)(E), paragraph (2)(A), paragraph (2)(B), 
     paragraph (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
     paragraph (3)(E), and paragraph (3)(F), by striking the term 
     ``State'' each place such term appears and inserting ``State 
     or American Indian consortium''; and
         (C) in clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(A), by striking 
     ``children and other individuals'' and inserting ``children, 
     youth, and adults'';
         (6) in subsection (h)--
         (A) by striking ``Not later than 2 years after the date 
     of the enactment of this section, the Secretary'' and 
     inserting ``Not less than biennially, the Secretary'';
         (B) by striking ``Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and Human 
     Resources'' and inserting ``Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives, and to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions''; and
         (C) by inserting ``and section 1253'' after ``programs 
     established under this section,'';
         (7) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
         ``(i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
         ``(1) The terms `American Indian consortium' and `State' 
     have the meanings given to those terms in section 1253.
         ``(2) The term `traumatic brain injury' means an acquired 
     injury to the brain. Such term does not include brain 
     dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders, 
     nor birth trauma, but may include brain injuries caused by 
     anoxia due to trauma. 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
         (8) in subsection (j), by inserting ``, and such sums as 
     may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
     2012'' before the period.
         (b) 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 subsections (d) and (e), by striking the term 
     ``subsection (i)'' each place such term appears and inserting 
     ``subsection (l)'';
         (2) in subsection (g), by inserting ``each fiscal year 
     not later than October 1,'' before ``the Administrator shall 
     pay'';
         (3) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as 
     subsections (l) and (m), respectively;
         (4) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:
         ``(i) Data Collection.--The Administrator of the Health 
     Resources and Services Administration and the Commissioner of 
     the Administration on Developmental Disabilities shall enter 
     into an agreement to coordinate the collection of data by the 
     Administrator and the Commissioner regarding protection and 
     advocacy services.
         ``(j) Training and Technical Assistance.--
         ``(1) Grants.--For any fiscal year for which the amount 
     appropriated to carry out this section is $6,000,000 or 
     greater, the Administrator shall use 2 percent of such amount 
     to make a grant to an eligible national association for 
     providing for training and technical assistance to protection 
     and advocacy systems.
         ``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `eligible 
     national association' means a national association with 
     demonstrated experience in providing training and technical 
     assistance to protection and advocacy systems.
         ``(k) System Authority.--In providing services under this 
     section, a protection and advocacy system shall have the same 
     authorities, including access to records, as such system 
     would have for purposes of providing services under subtitle 
     C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of 
     Rights Act of 2000.''; and
         (5) in subsection (l) (as redesignated by this 
     subsection) by striking ``2002 through 2005'' and inserting 
     ``2009 through 2012''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the Senate bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate bill, S. 793, the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, to authorize research and public 
health activities relating to trauma and traumatic brain injury. The 
version of the bill we are considering today represents bipartisan and 
bicameral consensus.
  The purpose of S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, is to 
authorize funding for research, treatment, surveillance and education 
activities related to trauma and traumatic brain injury at the National 
Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration 
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reauthorizing the 
traumatic brain injury program will strengthen the goal of 
understanding and addressing traumatic brain injury and strengthen our 
commitment to all those who experience traumatic brain injury.
  I want to acknowledge my friend the gentleman from New Jersey, 
Congressman Bill Pascrell, for his incredible leadership in the House 
on this important matter. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to join me in its support.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to join my colleague in support of S. 793, the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008. This legislation reauthorizes 
important grant programs, which assist States, territories, and the 
District of Columbia in establishing and expanding coordinated services 
of community-based services and support for those with traumatic brain 
injuries.
  Traumatic brain injuries, TBI, can happen to anyone, and occur when 
someone experiences brain damage from externally inflicted trauma to 
the head. While these injuries can impact children, teenagers and 
adults, TBI has been described as the signature wound of the war in 
Iraq.
  This legislation, first authorized in 1996, was reauthorized in 2000. 
With the large number of troops returning from the battlefield 
afflicted by this injury, it is important that we continue the 
activities authorized by this legislation.
  The bill ensures that we are working to improve treatment through 
research at the National Institutes of Health and are able to gather 
information about the incidence of TBI and the prevalence of TBI-
related disability.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important effort.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin. I would like to also thank Chairman Dingell 
and

[[Page 5396]]

Chairman Pallone for their thoughtful consideration and support for 
millions of TBI survivors and their families. But I personally want to 
thank my friend from Pennsylvania, Congressman Todd Platts, for his 
leadership on this important issue. He has shown true sensitivity, and 
as cochair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, families all 
through America could not have a better friend than Todd Platts.
  I have witnessed firsthand, Madam Speaker, how these programs make a 
difference in people's lives. Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause 
of death and disability in young Americans, as well as being the 
signature injury of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Every 21 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a 
traumatic brain injury. That adds up to 1.4 million TBIs each year. 
About half of these cases result in at least short-term disability, and 
about 50,000 people die as a result of these injuries. Eighty thousand 
people sustain severe brain injuries leading to long-term disability.
  The Centers for Disease Control estimates there are 5.3 million 
Americans who are living with long-term severe disability as a result 
of brain injury. The national cost is estimated at $60 billion 
annually.
  The statistics involving brain injury are increasing even more now 
that reports show that traumatic brain injuries account for 14 to 20 
percent of the casualties for those who survive combat in Iraq. As of 3 
months ago, Madam Speaker, 30,327 servicemembers have been wounded in 
Iraq. Two-thirds of those, approximately 20,000, have had injuries 
during this war affecting the brain.
  We are in truly a very important time in history. The brain is the 
last frontier of science. Many returning servicemembers suffering from 
TBI will receive excellent care and rehabilitation services within the 
Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. But others 
suffering TBI that are initially undiagnosed or misdiagnosed will later 
look to the civilian community and local resources for information and 
services, especially those who serve in the National Guard and 
Reserves.
  That is why it is essential that we continue to foster collaboration 
between the civilian and the military, like the Department of Defense 
Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain 
Injury. My good friend Colonel Sutton has done a fantastic job there to 
build a system that ensures returning troops receive what they need to 
put their lives back together again.
  Unfortunately, TBI remains a silent epidemic in the United States of 
America. That is why the legislation today, Madam Speaker, is so 
important. 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, the TBI Act 
represents a foundation for coordinated and balanced public policy in 
prevention, education and research and community living for people 
living with TBI and their circles of support, many times forgotten as 
well. It has produced results. For 10 years, the Traumatic Brain Injury 
Act was successfully providing direction and legal authority for the 
vast brain injury community in the United States. The act was not 
designed to provide direct care to persons with TBI, but rather to 
inform.
  The Health Resources and Services Administration grants within the 
TBI Act have helped States to improve access to health and other 
services for persons with TBI. Prior to the 1996 law, they did not have 
the tools to even access their own needs. Thanks to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, we now have a record of incidence, 
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, our health care 
providers and policymakers.
  Madam Speaker, I cannot tell you how crucial this is to those who 
have TBI folks within their family. This is serious business. They have 
to live with it as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's time has expired.
  Ms. BALDWIN. I would yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. PASCRELL. I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
  Funds would be authorized for the fiscal years 2009 to 2012. It 
authorizes several new studies, including a study from the CBC and NIH 
to not only determine the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain 
injury, but to identify common therapeutic interventions and develop 
rehabilitation guidelines. It establishes a study in collaboration with 
the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to identify the best 
methods of coordinating prevalence data in order to ensure that 
national research takes into account the incidence of brain injuries 
among our Nation's veterans and that current information about 
diagnostic tools and treatments are shared.
  Madam Speaker, only a strong commitment from the folks here and on 
the other side of this building is going to continue the incredible 
advances we have made in the area of basic brain research with 
prevention, with detection and with early treatment, physical and 
mental rehabilitation, long-term care and patient advocacy.
  I urge my colleagues to join with many of us on both sides of the 
aisle. I again thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Todd Platt, for 
his great work.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield to one of 
the real leaders who has kept this issue moving through this Congress, 
Todd Platts from Pennsylvania, and I yield the gentleman 5 minutes.
  Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 793, which, as 
was well delineated, reauthorizes this very important legislation, the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
  I am honored to join with Representative Bill Pascrell in introducing 
the House version of this legislation, which expands support systems 
for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. As the 
gentleman from New Jersey referenced, for the past 3 years, I have had 
the privilege of serving with him as cochair of the Congressional TBI 
Task Force.
  I am pleased to recognize my distinguished colleague from New Jersey 
for his tremendous leadership and dedication related to TBI research 
and treatments over the course of many years. I have been delighted to 
serve as cochair for 3 years, but, long before that, the gentleman from 
New Jersey has been leading this effort and been a real champion of the 
importance of this work. I have been honored to work with the gentleman 
from New Jersey to bring awareness to the unique issues that surround 
TBI, such as frequent misdiagnoses and barriers to adequate and 
meaningful treatments.
  Most Americans do not fully understand the amount of devastation 
caused by TBI each year. Most people do not realize that the incidence 
of TBI is greater than the incidence of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, 
multiple sclerosis and spinal injuries combined.
  Additionally, TBIs can manifest themselves in various manners, from a 
small behavioral change to complete physical disability and even death. 
Brain injuries affect the whole family emotionally and financially, 
often resulting in substantial medical and rehabilitation expenses.
  The TBI Act of 1996 produced extensive research at the National 
Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
regarding the incidence, detection and diagnosis of TBI. The time has 
come to better use these results and translate them into more extensive 
treatments. This is an important part of what Senate bill 793 aims to 
do.
  In addition to expanding the research of NIH and CDC, this 
legislation will build on the support systems that States have already 
implemented to increase the independence and productivity of 
individuals living with TBI.
  Soldiers returning from Iraq have brought much-needed attention to 
the

[[Page 5397]]

variety of symptoms associated with TBI. Thanks to the state-of-the-art 
body armor with which our men and women overseas are equipped, these 
heroic individuals are able to survive violent attacks while receiving 
blunt force to the head. Studies have found that over 60 percent of all 
soldiers wounded in an explosion, vehicle accidents, gunshot wound to 
the head or neck sustain a traumatic brain injury.
  This legislation provides additional support for States to integrate 
veterans into community-based treatments after these heroes return home 
from combat.
  This is a bill aimed at helping individuals who, due to traumatic 
experiences, may never live their lives the same way again. Senate bill 
793 builds on current research and support systems to help vulnerable 
individuals lead a more comfortable, productive and independent life.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and, I, 
again, commend my colleague from New Jersey for his great leadership in 
advancing this cause.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to my 
colleague on the Health Subcommittee, the gentlelady from California 
(Mrs. Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. I want to thank my colleague for yielding to me.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 793, the 
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008. I want to commend the leaders of 
the bill in the House who have spoken already. This version of the bill 
we are considering today represents bipartisan and bicameral consensus.
  It would fund, as we have heard, important research, treatment, 
surveillance and educational activities related to trauma and traumatic 
brain injury, commonly known now as TBI. The funding would support 
ongoing efforts at the National Institutes of Health, which are so 
important, and also the Health Resources and Services Administration 
and the CDC.
  Reauthorizing this program will strengthen the goal of understanding 
and addressing TBI and strengthening our capacity to treat it. This 
current war has made us all too much familiar with the devastating 
effects of TBI and the importance of coordinated interventions to treat 
it. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan underscored the importance of this 
legislation, but by no means do these situations only arise in times of 
war.
  We know that traumatic brain injury has been occurring all along with 
all kinds of traumas, traumas to the head and sometimes unsuspected 
injury that can result from other traumas. And so we need to, for a 
variety of reasons, pass this legislation and get this bill signed into 
law.
  I want to acknowledge my friend and colleague Congressman Bill 
Pascrell and also Congressman Platts from Pennsylvania. This leadership 
has brought us to this point. I know that our Health Subcommittee is 
pleased to be a part of this legislation.
  I urge, strongly, our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join 
in supporting Senate bill 793.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time and urge adoption of the bill.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time and 
would also commend my colleagues to join me in support of this 
legislation.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 793, the 
Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act. S. 793 is the Senate 
companion to H.R. 1418, a bill that I cosponsored to amend the Public 
Health Service Act to reauthorize and improve our efforts to combat and 
treat traumatic brain injury, TBI, at the Federal and State levels. As 
a member of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, this issue is 
near and dear to my heart, and I am proud that we are debating this 
important legislation today.
  Of troops wounded in Iraq 62 percent have sustained TBI, compared to 
a rate closer to 20 percent in previous conflicts. Overall in the U.S., 
there are about 1.5 million civilian cases of traumatic brain injury 
each year. I have worked hard to make researching and fighting TBI a 
priority and, in particular, the relationship between TBI and epilepsy.
  Traumatic brain injury, TBI, causes epilepsy in up to 30 percent of 
civilians and 50 percent of military head injuries, greatly 
exacerbating chronic neurological disability. TBI is particularly 
problematic for soldiers currently serving or recently returned from 
Iraq and Afghanistan.
  In 1996, members of Congress passed the Traumatic Brain Injury Act, 
which amended the Public Health Service Act to increase resources 
available to research on traumatic brain injury. Today, we have the 
opportunity to reauthorize and amend this act to include a broader 
spectrum of traumatic brain injury programs, especially those at the 
State level.
  An expansion and improvement of our traumatic brain injury programs 
will serve those in this country who suffer from the condition, while 
providing opportunities for research and development of programs to 
better prevent and detect traumatic brain injuries.
  Madam Speaker, traumatic brain injuries affect families across 
America, and we must continue to invest in programs to prevent, detect, 
and treat these injuries. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me 
in voting in favor of this important legislation.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
  Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, is a leading cause of death and 
disability in young Americans. Approximately 1.4 million people sustain 
a TBI each year in the United States. The most common causes of TBI are 
falls, traffic accidents, and assault. These brain injuries result in 
short-term or long-term disabilities and can severely impact how people 
live their lives.
  Congress took an important step in 1996 by passing the Traumatic 
Brain Injury Act to promote brain injury research, education, 
treatment, and prevention. It is the only Federal law that specifically 
addresses the issues faced by persons with brain injury. This law has 
successfully improved access to health care and other services for 
individuals with TBI. Without the TBI Act, State governments and these 
individuals would be left to their own devices.
  More recently, we have seen an increasing number of traumatic brain 
injuries in servicemembers returning home from combat operations. The 
programs in the TBI Act can help the thousands of troops wounded in 
combat and suffering from brain injury. We have an obligation to assist 
these soldiers, and I am proud that Congress has provided funding in 
the recent appropriations bill to address TBI in returning personnel.
  The reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act builds on the 
success of the original 1996 law by continuing to educate the public 
and provide much needed data on TBI for scientists, health care 
providers, and policy makers. I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
National Public Health Week and the health bills that the House will 
debate today. It is important that we recognize and build on quality 
public health programs that affect every aspect of our lives--from 
effective childhood vaccination programs, to early screening programs 
for diseases, to ensuring that Americans have access to critical 
treatment programs.
  Access to quality, affordable health care is critical to the well-
being of our country, today and in the future. With 46 million 
uninsured--9 million of whom are children--we need to focus on 
strengthening the Medicare system, providing increased access to 
quality health care programs and ensuring that our low-income children 
and families have health insurance.
  During my tenure in the Virginia General Assembly, I introduced a 
number of bills that focused on child and maternal health, preventive 
screenings for hearing and immunizations for children against certain 
diseases. The need for these services was vital to the health of the 
citizens not only of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but also to our 
Nation as a whole and continues to help our most vulnerable today.
  Madam Speaker, there continues to be an urgent need for expanded 
health care coverage and increased access to health care for children, 
seniors and low-income individuals. Because of this need, I introduced 
H.R. 1688, The All Healthy Children Act. The All Healthy Children Act, 
endorsed by the Children's Defense Fund, is a logical, smart and 
achievable incremental next step to close the child coverage gap and 
guarantees all children have access to the health coverage that they 
need to survive, thrive and learn. This proposal would ensure that all 
children are covered by expanding the coverage of both the Medicaid and 
SCHIP programs while eliminating procedural red tape that currently 
prevents many children from being covered under either program. This 
comprehensive program would include all basic health care and 
preventive testing as well as coverage for mental health and prenatal 
care.

[[Page 5398]]

  The bills that we will vote on today will also help to provide our 
medical community the tools necessary to improve lives through 
prevention, research and treatment of disease. For example:
  The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program is a critical 
CDC program intended to identify and help infants with hearing loss. 
This bill reauthorizes funding and expands the program to provide 
screening and intervention services for young children. We know that 
the earlier hearing problems are identified, the more effective the 
medical services can be.
  The Wakefield Act is designed to improve emergency medical services 
for children needing trauma or critical care.
  The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act educates parents and health 
care providers about newborn health screening, improves follow-up care 
for infants with an illness detected through newborn screening, and 
helps States expand and improve their newborn screening programs. Many 
diseases and conditions which can be cured when detected early can lead 
to permanent disabilities if not detected in time.
  The Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act is designed to improve the 
analysis of tests for cervical cancer by ensuring that health care 
professionals who read tests for cervical cancer are skilled in today's 
medical technology. It modernizes the cervical cancer testing program 
by requiring continuing medical education for pathologists to assess 
their diagnostic skills and ensure they keep up with the latest 
practices.
  The Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act launches a comprehensive 
preventative care program to reduce the number and severity of falls by 
the elderly. It directs HHS to implement directives to reduce falls, 
including improving the identification of seniors who have a high risk 
of falling; supporting education campaigns focused on reducing and 
preventing falls and on educating health professionals about fall risk, 
assessment and prevention; and conducting research to reduce falls.
  The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act will help schools 
deal with food allergies among their student population by requiring 
the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
Department of Education, to develop a policy for schools on appropriate 
management and emergency plans for children with food allergies and 
anaphylaxis. The policy would be provided to schools within 1 year 
after enactment, and schools could voluntarily implement the policy. 
The bill also authorizes HHS to award grants to local school districts 
to help them in implementing the policy.
  The House amendment to the Traumatic Brain Injury Act authorizes the 
Centers for Disease Control, CDC, to provide State grants for patients 
with traumatic brain injury to enter treatment and rehabilitation 
programs. The thousands of brain injury survivors who are returning 
home from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are joining the 5.3 million 
similarly afflicted Americans here at home. Indeed, TBI is the leading 
cause of death and disability among young Americans. The legislation 
would require the CDC to monitor brain injury incidents and create a 
reporting system to track the condition. It also directs CDC to study 
treatment techniques and NIH to conduct basic research to improve 
treatment.
  Madam Speaker, action on these critical issues is imperative to meet 
the pressing health care concerns of our Nation. I urge my colleagues 
to support these bills.
  Ms. BALDWIN. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 793, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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