From the Brain Injury Association of America:
Attorney Gordon Johnson
http://subtlebraininjury.com
http://tbilaw.com
https://waiting.com
http://vestibulardisorder.com
http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney
g@gordonjohnson.com
800-992-9447
Brain Injury Association of America
Policy Corner E-Newsletter – June 27, 2008
A weekly update on federal policy activity related to traumatic brain injury
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Dear Advocates:
Legislative activity related to traumatic brain injury policy ensued on numerous fronts this week, as Congress made progress on several bills before leaving town for a week-long July 4 recess beginning on Monday.
Progress on appropriations occurred this week on the Senate side, as the full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and approved its Fiscal 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education funding bill.
Meanwhile – on the other side of the Capitol – as marked up on the Subcommittee level last week, the House Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations funding measure contains increased funding for some federal TBI programs. Unfortunately, this bill was not approved by the full House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, as a major breakdown in the Committee’s markup process occurred as a result of partisan disputes. The fate of all House appropriations bills are now uncertain.
Progress on several important bills not related to appropriations also took place this week. On Thursday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved provisions contained in S. 2921, The Caring for Wounded Warriors Act. BIAA has strongly supported and endorsed this legislation, which was recently introduced by Sen. Clinton (D-NY), and would strengthen supports for family caregivers of returning servicemembers with TBI.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195) with strong bipartisan backing by a vote of 402-15. Earlier in the week, BIAA formally endorsed this legislation, which is designed to strengthen protections for individuals with disabilities originally enacted through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.
Also this week, the Senate approved a compromise version of the war supplemental funding bill, readying the legislation for president’s expected signature. This legislation contained a moratorium – strongly supported by BIAA – on the implementation of several harmful Medicaid regulations.
Finally, the House and Senate were unable to agree on a final Medicare package, which would have prevented deep cuts beginning on July 1 in Medicare payment rates for physicians. Negotiations on such a package are expected to continue when Congress resumes session on Monday, July 7.
Please note that the next issue of Policy Corner will be published on Friday, July 11, as Congress is in recess next week.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Director of Government Affairs, on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
BIAA’s Policy Corner and Legislative Action Alerts are made possible by the Centre for Neuro Skills, James F. Humphreys & Associates, and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury Association of America gratefully acknowledges their support for legislative action.
To sign up to receive future BIAA Policy Corner E-Newsletters and Legislative Action Alerts, please go to http://capwiz.com/bia/mlm/signup/
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Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill Advances in Senate; Stalls in House
Progress on appropriations occurred this week on the Senate side, as the full Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and approved its Fiscal 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education funding bill.
The Senate’s markup provided the same funding amounts for several TBI programs as last year, including $5.7 million for TBI programming within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and $8.754 million for the HRSA TBI State Grant Program.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capitol, as marked up on the Subcommittee level last week, the House Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations funding measure contains increased funding for some federal TBI programs compared to last year. The House Subcommittee markup includes $11 million for the HRSA TBI State Grant Program (+$2.246 million over last year) and $6.6 million for TBI programming within CDC (+$0.9 million over last year).
Unfortunately, though, this bill was not approved by the full House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, as a major breakdown in the Committee’s markup process occurred as a result of partisan disputes. In fact, partisan vitriol reached such a high level during the attempted House markup of the Labor-HHS-Education funding bill that Rep. Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, threatened not to allow any further progress to occur this year on House appropriations bills. Stay tuned.
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Approves Caring for Wounded Warrior Act Provisions
On Thursday, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee approved provisions contained in S. 2921, The Caring for Wounded Warriors Act, S. 2921. BIAA has strongly supported and endorsed this legislation, and several recommendations made by BIAA during the legislative drafting process were incorporated into the bill.
Provisions in the legislation, which was recently introduced by Sen. Clinton (D-NY), would strengthen supports for family caregivers of returning servicemembers with TBI. Specifically, provisions would require two pilot programs to be implemented through the Department of Veterans Affairs, improving the resources available to those caring for returning servicemembers with TBI.
A quote from BIAA President and CEO Susan H. Connors was included in Sen. Clinton’s press release announcing passage of the bill’s provisions:
“Traumatic brain injury not only affects individuals but entire families as well. The Brain Injury Association of America applauds Senator Clinton and Members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for their leadership in passing this legislation, which compassionately and responsibly provides much-needed supports to family caregivers of servicemembers with TBI,” said Susan H. Connors, President and CEO of BIAA.
BIAA will continue to monitor the progress of this important bill, and thanks advocates for urging their Members of Congress to become cosponsors of this legislation.
House Passes ADA Amendments Act of 2008 By Wide Margin
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195) with strong bipartisan backing by a vote of 402-15. Earlier in the week, BIAA formally endorsed this legislation, which is designed to strengthen protections for individuals with disabilities originally enacted through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 is the product of meaningful negotiations and discussions with experts in the disability community, business and employer groups, Members of Congress, and congressional staff. The measure prohibits consideration of mitigating measures in the determination of whether an individual has a disability, with the exception of ordinary eyeglasses and contact lenses. The bill also affords broad coverage for individuals “regarded as” having a
disability under the ADA.
A copy of BIAA’s endorsement letter, which was circulated to all Members of the House of Representatives prior to the vote this week, is available at http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.
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