Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7208) to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury program, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7208

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. THE BILL PASCRELL, JR., NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY SURVEILLANCE AND REGISTRIES.

Section 393C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b-1d) is amended--

(1) by amending the section header to read as follows: ``the bill pascrell, jr., national program for traumatic brain injury surveillance and registries''; and

(2) by striking subsection (b). SEC. 3. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INJURIES.

Section 394A(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b-3(b)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''. SEC. 4. STATE GRANTS FOR PROJECTS REGARDING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

Section 1252 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-52) is amended--

(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``that is not less than $1 for each $2 of Federal funds provided under the grant.'' and inserting the following: ``that is--

``(A) for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, not less than $1 for each $2 of Federal funds provided under the grant; and

``(B) for fiscal year 2025 and each succeeding fiscal year, not less than $0.50 for each $2 of Federal funds provided under the grant.'';

(2) by striking subsection (e);

(3) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as subsections (e) through (h), respectively;

(4) by amending subsection (g)(2), as so redesignated, to read as follows:

``(2)(A) The term `traumatic brain injury' means an acquired injury to the brain.

``(B) Such term--

``(i) does not include brain dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders, nor birth trauma; and

``(ii) may include--

``(I) brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma; and

``(II) damage to the brain from an internal or external source that results in toxicity, surgery, or vascular disorders not associated with aging.

``(C) The Secretary may revise the definition of such term as the Secretary determines necessary, after consultation with States and other appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.''; and

(5) in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''. SEC. 5. STATE GRANTS FOR PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES.

Section 1253(l) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-53(l)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2025 through 2029''. SEC. 6. REPORT ON DESIGNATING BRAIN INJURY AS A CHRONIC CONDITION.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall--

(1) examine the evidence base for designating brain injury as a chronic condition that can impact individuals with brain injury across the lifespan; and

(2) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act--

(A) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report detailing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the examination described in paragraph (1); and

(B) make publicly available on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the report described in subparagraph (A).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7208, the Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024 led by Congressman Bill Pascrell.

This bill will continue important resources for TBI prevention, help improve access to TBI rehabilitation, and support TBI patient advocacy systems.

From 2020 to 2021, there were over 200,000 TBI-related hospitalizations and almost 70,000 deaths. People 75 and older had the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Recent data suggests that over 1.5 million Americans survive a traumatic brain injury each year. TBIs can impact a person's life in many ways, putting patients at increased risk for depression, falls, and permanent cognitive decline.

This legislation would continue resources to help support States and other entities to ensure providers and patients are educated on the incidence of TBIs and improve methods to treat and prevent such incidents.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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