Litigation

Brain Injury Association of America-Legislative Update

By Michael Kaplen

Here is this week's legislative update from the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA):

Appropriations Update:

With House Appropriations Committee consideration of the FY2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies around the corner, BIAA is working diligently to secure funding for programs authorized through the TBI Act, as well as for NIDRR?s TBI Model Systems of Care. 
Specifically, BIAA and other TBI stakeholders recommend:

? $10 million (+ $4 million) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TBI Registries and Surveillance, Brain Injury Acute Care Guidelines, Prevention and National Public Education/Awareness
? $8 million (+ $1 million) for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Federal TBI State Grant Program
? $4 million (+ $1 million) for the HRSA Federal TBI Protection & Advocacy (P&A) Systems Grant Program

? $11 million (+1.5 million) for NIDRR?s TBI Model Systems of care for one new collaborative research project

Based on the requests of the stakeholders, The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force submitted a letter to the House Appropriations Committee on March 12, 2010 to encourage the funding increases necessary to sustain and bolster important research and improve state TBI services and supports.

Also, to supplement the meetings that BIAA and other stakeholders participated in with Appropriations Committee staff in both the House and the Senate, BIAA and NASHIA also facilitated an organizational letter to both appropriations committees with over 70 signers to show nationwide support for this essential funding. You can read the letter by clicking here.

Finally, BIAA submitted official testimony to both the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees to further cement our position.  You can read the official testimony by clicking here.

As the appropriations process moves forward, BIAA will monitor the situation closely and alert grassroots advocates if action is necessary.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on April 20, 2010 (boomark / email).