$10 Million Dollars Allocated To Brain Injury Programs By Congress

The following brain injury legislative update comes from Susan Connors, president and chief operating officer of the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA):

I’m pleased to announce that the House Appropriations Committee has passed its version of the FY 2010 spending bill, allocating $10 million to the HRSA state grant and protection and advocacy programs. An excerpt from the accompanying report states,

“The Committee provides $10 million for the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program. This is $123,000 above the fiscal year 2009 funding level and the budget request. The TBI program funds the development and implementation of statewide systems to ensure access to care, including pre-hospital care, emergency department care, hospital care, rehabilitation, transitional services, education and employment, and long-term community supports. Grants also go to State protection and advocacy systems. In fiscal year 2009, 16 States will receive TBI awards, and 57 State and territorial protection and advocacy systems will be funded.  The Committee intends that HRSA allocates the TBI funding increase to States and protection and advocacy systems in the same proportion as they received with fiscal year 2009 funding.”

BIAA thanks grassroots advocates for their assistance.

Susan Connors
BIAA President/CEO