Litigation

Brain Injury Legislative Update

By Michael Kaplen

The Brain Injury Association of America has requested that I share this week's legislative update with you:

Now that Congress has successfully passed this year?s budget, next week will feature key activity on appropriations on numerous fronts.

Late this week, Fiscal 2009 302(b) Appropriations Subcommittee Allocations were announced, including an allocation of $153.1 billion for the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds several important federal TBI programs.

House and Senate Appropriations markup schedules were also announced this week, with the House tentatively set to mark up its Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill on June 19, and the Senate scheduled to mark up its version of the bill during the week of June 23.

In addition, it is possible the House may take up the war supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 2642) next week, as Democratic leaders have made it a priority to pass this funding bill before Congress recesses for the Fourth of July.

In other developments, this past week the House Committee on Veterans Affairs held an important hearing on implementing the Wounded Warrior provisions contained in last year?s defense authorization bill, including several BIAA-supported provisions focused specifically on TBI care for returning servicemembers.

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs also approved H.R. 2818, legislation endorsed by BIAA which would establish Epilepsy Centers of Excellence within the VA. 
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT:  BIAA recently issued a Legislative Action Alert on Fiscal Year 2009 TBI appropriations. BIAA continues to urge advocates to make contact with their representatives in Congress and urge them to increase appropriations for federal TBI programs this year. 

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on June 16, 2008 (boomark / email).