The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the voice of brain injury on Capitol Hill. We tirelessly advocate for greater access to care for civilian and military populations, expanded brain injury research, adequate resources for state programs and increased congressional awareness of brain injury issues, among other priorities. BIAA encourages all advocates to use these issue briefs when working with national, state and local government officials on critical public policy issues for people with brain injury, including: access to care, research, TBI Act appropriations and reauthorization, and membership in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the TBI Act, H.R. 1098, was introduced by Reps. Pascrell and Rooney, co-chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. This bill will reauthorize the current programs relating to TBI and also will move the state grant and protection and advocacy grant programs from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to another agency with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The move acknowledges the impact of TBI across the age span, including older adults and returning service members/veterans. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force recommends relocating the program to better coordinate with federal agencies regarding long-term services and supports available to individuals with other disabilities, particularly the long-term services and supports provision of the Affordable Care Act. BIAA thanks Reps. Pascrell and Rooney for introducing this important legislation. Please call your Member of Congress and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 1098 today! Happy New Year! The Brain Injury Association of America welcomes the new and returning members to the 113th Congress. BIAA is poised to take on both the opportunities and difficulties this new Congress presents. With the 2012 election behind us, President Obama maintained his job as Commander in Chief; the Senate remained a Democratic majority and the House of Representatives remained Republican, BIAA looks forward to the challenges ahead. With the fiscal cliff averted, policymakers are focused on the debt ceiling and resolving the sequester.The Continuing Resolution (CR) that is funding the federal government will expire on March 27, 2013. BIAA will continue to monitor all budget discussions moving forward in the new Congress. Amidst the politicking, BIAA will continue to advocate with the support of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBITF), a bi-partisan caucus of more than 120 members of Congress, led by Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., (NJ-D). Congressman Platts, the previous co-chair of the CBITF retired at the end of the 112th Congress. BIAA thanks Rep. Platts for his tireless work for individuals with brain injury and their families. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-R) has been invited by Rep. Pascrell to be the next Co-Chair of the CBITF. BIAA looks forward to working with the CBITF to advocate for all individuals that are impacted by brain injury. Our goals this year are to sustain and bolster brain injury programs, increase access to care and preserve vital brain injury research. As in 2012, appropriations increases in 2013 are unlikely, but there are still many opportunities to advance our cause. This year, BIAA will continue to collaborate with the Health Resources and Services Administration, theNational Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health , the Food and Drug Administration, and the Administration for Community Living, a new partnership that was developed in 2012. BIAA will also continue to monitor and comment on the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ research and treatment for active duty military, their dependents and Veterans. This year more than ever, BIAA will count on its grassroots advocates to show members of Congress how important brain injury is to their constituents. Thank you to everyone who participated in our action alerts last year. You helped make Congress aware of TBI Act reauthorization and repealing the therapy cap which limits the amount of therapy an individual can receive. You've all truly made a difference and we hope to continue that excitement and dedication in 2013!Advocacy & Government Affairs
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2013 BIAA Federal and State Public Policy Platform
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TBI Act Reauthorization
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