Orrin Hatch: “I rise today to introduce the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018. I want to thank my colleague…”

“I rise today to introduce the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018. I want to thank my colleague, Senator Casey, for working with me once again on important legislation to reauthorize the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury program, which is dedicated to improving the delivery and quality of care for persons with traumatic brain injury -- or, TBI. Each year, millions of Americans suffer TBIs as a result of automobile collisions, falls, recreational accidents, assaults, and other tragic incidents. TBI has also been called a signature wound of recent wars. In 2016, the Department of Defense reported more than 18,000 service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. A survivor of a severe brain injury typically faces years of intensive health and rehabilitation services, with estimated lifetime costs in the millions. In 1996, I worked with my good friend Senator Ted Kennedy on the original TBI Act to help limit the suffering, death, and long-term disability that results from TBI. Our legislation marked the beginning of a multifaceted Federal endeavor to address the needs of persons with TBI and their families. The 1996 TBI law authorized research, not only for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, but also for prevention and awareness programs to help decrease the occurrence of TBI and improve patient outcomes. It was the first Federal legislation to focus on improving education, protection, and state services coordination for TBI.…”