Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
Approximately 1.4 million Americans experience Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) each year and an estimated 3.2 million Americans are living with long-term, severe disabilities as a result of brain injury. Another 360,000 men and women are estimated to have been inflicted by a TBI in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The national cost of TBI is estimated to be $60 billion annually. That is why I founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001. Co-Chaired by Rep. Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, the task force will serve as a clearinghouse of information for Congress and the public. It will promote full funding for the TBI Act and other brain injury research programs, and provide guidance to federal agencies on policies and proposed rulemakings.
Mission
To further education and awareness of brain injury (incidence, prevalence, prevention, and treatment) and support funding for basic and applied research on brain injury rehabilitation and development of a cure.
Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability among young Americans in the United States. However, it is often known as the "silent epidemic" -- traumatic brain injury can strike anyone at any time. TBI is defined as an insult to the brain caused by an external force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness and which often results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. TBI can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning.
Nationwide, there are 1.5 million brain injuries per year, with an estimated societal cost of over $60 billion per year, including direct care and loss of productivity. There are now 3.2 million Americans living with long term disability as a result of brain injury.
These numbers do not include incidence or prevalence of "Acquired Brain Injury" (ABI) which can occur with anoxia or stroke. ABI and TBI should be considered together by the Caucus.
TBI has been named the signature wound of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan with an estimated 360,000 brain-injured men and women returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. America's armed forces are sustaining attacks by rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, and land mines almost daily in Iraq and Afghanistan. These injured soldiers require specialized care from providers experienced in treating traumatic brain injury. Blast injuries have become common in military conflicts.
The "Traumatic Brain Injury Act" was most recently reauthorized in April 2008. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force worked hard to ensure that the new authorization included increased funding for research and treatment of TBI.
Membership
Click here to view a list of members of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force for the 112th Congress. (DOC)
Newsletters
Legislation
- H.Res.178
- Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month.
- H.R. 1347
- The Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act - Provides for the establishment and implementation of concussion management guidelines for school-aged children and provides grants for schools' implementation of computerized pre-season baseline and post-injury neuropsychological testing for student athletes.
Appropriations Requests
Members of the 110th Congress request support for the Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program from the House Appropriations Committee.
Appropriation History
Media
- August 31, 2011 – ABC News
- College Football Player Dies; Brain Injury Suspected
- August 29, 2011 – NIH News from the Department of Health and Human Services
- NIH Database Will Speed Research Toward Better Prevention, Diagnosis And Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injury
- August 8, 2011 – USNewswire
- The American Legion Greatly Concerned About VA Treatment of PTS with “Useless” Drug- Calls for Congressional Hearings
- July 30, 2011 – USA Today
- Brain Injury May Boost Stroke Risk
- July 18, 2011 – US News
- Ex-NFL Players May Face Higher Brain Damage Risk: Study
- July 14, 2011 – Washington Post
- Veterans Wait Too Long for Mental Health Services, Reports Say
- July 14, 2011 – AP Enterprise
- Army Treats Brain Injuries in Field
- June 25, 2011 – Chicago Tribune
- Can Mouthguards and Football Helmets Really Prevent Concussion?
- June 24, 2011 – American Forces Press Service
- Intrepid Center Marks First Anniversary
- June 20, 2011 – USA Today
- Study Affirms Concussion Dangers to Young Athletes
- June 20, 2011 – Bloomberg
- Football Is Deadliest Sport Among Youth Athletes, Study Finds
- June 17, 2011 – USA Today
- Validity of Baseline Testing Questioned
- June 17, 2011 – New York Times
- Turning to Software to Help Treat Brain Injuries
- June 3, 2011 – USA Today
- Concussions Tied to Verbal Memory Loss in Young Athletes
- June 1, 2011 – Washington Post
- Study of Troops with Traumatic Brain Injury Hints at Specific Sites of Damage
- May 25, 2011 – USA Today
- Testing Helps Change the Game on Youth Concussions
- May 23, 2011 – Marine Corps Times
- Report: Many Errors in VA Mental Health Claims
- May 10, 2011 – NPR
- Few Troops Exposed to Bomb Blasts Are Screened For Concussion
- May 6, 2011 – North County Times
- VA Studies Prompt Better Diagnosis of TBIs, PTSDs
- May 6, 2011 – CBS News
- “Medical Research Misconduct” on Brain Injured Soldiers
- April 25, 2011 – Stars and Stripes
- More Marines Now Eligible to Receive Purple Heart for TBI
- April 20, 2011 – Wall Street Journal
- Feeding Found to Help Brain Injuries
- April 19, 2011 – My Health News Daily
- Depression Common After Brain Injury
- April 19, 2011 – My Health News Daily
- Antidepressants Could Help Heal Brain Injuries
- April 17, 2011 – USA Today
- Larger Helmet Could Guard Against Brain Injury
- April 6, 2011 – Washington Post
- High School Concussion Statistics
- March 11, 2011 – American Forces Press Service
- Department Makes ‘Great Strides’ in Brain-injury Care
- January 12, 2011 – NortheastCobbPatch
- Insurance Refuses Claim for Mother with Brain Injury
- May 10, 2010 - Sports Network
- Eastern Oregon Football Player Dies from Head Injury
- May 3, 2010 - CongressDaily
- Earmark for Veteran’s Care
- April 19, 2010 - Chicago Daily Herald
- New Research May Help Patients with Memory Loss from Brain Injuries
- April 13, 2010 - PR Newswire
- HDNet World Report Investigates a New and Promising Treatment for Soldiers With Traumatic Brain Injuries
- April 9, 2010 - The Star-Ledger
- A Dangerous Game: NFL’s Debt to Players with Brain Injury
- April 5, 2010 - Business Wire
- Novel Therapy Provides Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury
- April 1, 2010 - The Associated Press
- Military Plans to Test Brain-Injury Therapy
- April 1, 2010 - The Star-Ledger
- Institute (of Medicine) Urges Study on Care of Troops with Brain Injuries
- March 31, 2010 - The Associated Press
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Long-Term Plan Urged to Care for Iraq, Afghan Veterans
- March 17, 2010 - States News Service
- Tracking Impact of Traumatic Brain Injuries
- March 15, 2010 - LIFE
- Progesterone to the rescue; Female hormone's effect on brain injuries shows promise
- March 1, 2010 - USA TODAY
- Pentagon Focuses on Brain Trauma
- February 19, 2010 - USA TODAY
- Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Not So Mild After All
- January 04, 2010 - The Star-Ledger
- Kids and Concussions: The Effects of Head Injuries in Young Athletes
- December 16, 2009 - The Associated Press
- Girl Who Sustained 11 Concussions Seeks New Law
- October 09, 2009 - Stars and Stripes
- DoD Asked to Consider Purple Heart for TBI
- September 8, 2009 - PR Newswire
- BHR Pharma Announces Phase 3 SyNAPSe Study of Progesterone as a Neuroprotective Agent for Traumatic Brain Injury
- July 13, 2009 - St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
- Iraq Vet is Still Fighting, Now for a Purple Heart
- June 10, 2009 - PR Newswire
- Brain Injury Association of America Urges President Obama to Include Cognitive Rehabilitation for Returning Service Members as a Part of TRICARE Coverage
- January 21, 2009 - TIME
- Kids Competing Too Soon After Concussions
- January 13, 2009 - States News Service
- Cognitive Rehab Helps People with Acquired Brain Injury
- August 4, 2008 - States News Service
- Bayh and Obama Seek to Broaden Treatment for Signature Injury of Iraq, Afranistan Wars
- July 2008 - American Legion Magazine
- Signature Wound of the War
- March 25, 2007- The Record
- Op-Ed: Funding for the "Signature Injury" of the War In Iraq is Key
- March 17, 2005- Roll Call
- Lobbyists Seek Increased Funding For Brain Injury Treatment, Research
- March 17, 2005- The Hill
- Letter to the Editor: Giving Brain Injury a Voice
- May 21, 2002- New Jersey Medical Magazine
- Op-Ed: Traumatic Brain Injury: The Silent Epidemic