[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE PASSAGE OF THE TBI TREATMENT ACT AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, thousands of our brave servicemen and 
women are returning from combat with severe cases of Traumatic Brain 
Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resulting in an 
inability to hold a job, properly care for their families, or in some 
cases, to overcome suicidal tendencies. As a nation, we have the 
responsibility for their care and recovery.
   Currently, private healthcare providers across the United States are 
helping brain injury patients with new and innovative treatments, some 
of which have not yet been made available in Department of Defense 
(DoD) treatment facilities. In an effort to fix this delinquency, I 
introduced H.R. 2344, the TBI Treatment Act, in the House of 
Representatives.
   The TBI Treatment Act would establish a 5-year ``pay-for-
performance'' pilot program, not to exceed $10 million per year, which 
would help expedite some of the new and groundbreaking treatments to 
our nations' active duty soldiers suffering from TBI and PTSD. 
Healthcare providers would be able to treat active-duty soldiers at no 
cost to the patient. The healthcare provider would be reimbursed by the 
DoD for providing the treatments, but only if the treatment is proven 
successful based on independent pre- and post- treatment 
neuropsychological testing, accepted survey instruments, neurological 
imaging, or clinical examinations. Currently, soldiers and veterans 
suffering from TBI and PTSD are paying out-of-pocket for these 
innovative treatments. Lastly, treatments must be approved by the Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA), the Secretary of Defense, and by an 
institutional review board operating in accordance with regulations 
issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
   In light of House consideration this week of H.R. 1960, The National 
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2014, I was proud 
to offer the TBI Treatment Act as an amendment to the NDAA along with 
my friend and colleague from California, Congressman Mike Thompson. I 
am pleased to report that last night; the House of Representatives 
approved by voice vote the TBI Treatment Act amendment. This is a great 
victory for those suffering from TBI and PTSD and is an important step 
towards ensuring that our nation's soldiers receive the care and 
treatments they have earned and deserve. I hope that my colleagues in 
the Senate will also include the TBI Treatment Act when they consider 
defense authorization legislation.

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