Mullin’s TBI Program Reauthorization Bill Passes HELP Committee, Shares Personal Story of Son’s Medical Journey

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024

Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) released the following statement after his bill, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act, co-led by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), passed on a strong bipartisan vote out of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The bill will now advance to the floor to be voted on by the full U.S. Senate.

This bill reauthorizes three grant programs authorized under the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act through 2029. The grant programs include TBI State Partnership Grants to help states increase access to rehabilitation and community services for individuals with TBI, TBI State Protection and Advocacy Systems Grants, which help states provide advocacy services for people with TBIs, and the CDC’s TBI Program, which funds research aimed at preventing TBI and data collection on the prevalence of TBI.

Sen. Mullin’s full remarks can be found here.

“In 2020, my family’s life changed in an instant when our son Jim, who was 15 at the time, suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury while wrestling,” said Sen. Mullin. “While we are on the other side of recovery thanks to the experts at the Center for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield, California, and the grace of God, not all patients who suffer TBIs are so lucky.

This reauthorization will ensure the millions of Americans who suffer traumatic brain injuries and those suffering from long-term disabilities because of the injury have the support and resources necessary to navigate recovery.

Thank you to my co-lead Senator Casey and other HELP Committee colleagues for recognizing the important need to reauthorize these important grant programs and passing this bill out of committee. Now, I urge Leader Schumer to bring it to the Senate floor,” concluded Sen. Mullin.

Background:

Every year, at least 2.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (most are mild, but the severe cases cause temporary and permanent neurological impairment).
- Native Americans, African Americans, veterans, athletes, older adults, and men are at higher risk for TBI.
Research has shown that brain injury has chronic, long-term effects such as fatigue, sensitivity to noise and light, memory loss, mobility issues, chronic migraines, and trouble with focus.
The Traumatic Brain Injury Act was first passed in 1996 and has been reauthorized five times, the latest of which occurred in 2018.