Mr. PLATTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 793, which, as was well delineated, reauthorizes this very important legislation, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.
I am honored to join with Representative Bill Pascrell in introducing the House version of this legislation, which expands support systems for individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. As the gentleman from New Jersey referenced, for the past 3 years, I have had the privilege of serving with him as cochair of the Congressional TBI Task Force.
I am pleased to recognize my distinguished colleague from New Jersey for his tremendous leadership and dedication related to TBI research and treatments over the course of many years. I have been delighted to serve as cochair for 3 years, but, long before that, the gentleman from New Jersey has been leading this effort and been a real champion of the importance of this work. I have been honored to work with the gentleman from New Jersey to bring awareness to the unique issues that surround TBI, such as frequent misdiagnoses and barriers to adequate and meaningful treatments.
Most Americans do not fully understand the amount of devastation caused by TBI each year. Most people do not realize that the incidence of TBI is greater than the incidence of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and spinal injuries combined.
Additionally, TBIs can manifest themselves in various manners, from a small behavioral change to complete physical disability and even death. Brain injuries affect the whole family emotionally and financially, often resulting in substantial medical and rehabilitation expenses.
The TBI Act of 1996 produced extensive research at the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the incidence, detection and diagnosis of TBI. The time has come to better use these results and translate them into more extensive treatments. This is an important part of what Senate bill 793 aims to do.
In addition to expanding the research of NIH and CDC, this legislation will build on the support systems that States have already implemented to increase the independence and productivity of individuals living with TBI.
Soldiers returning from Iraq have brought much-needed attention to the variety of symptoms associated with TBI. Thanks to the state-of-the-art body armor with which our men and women overseas are equipped, these heroic individuals are able to survive violent attacks while receiving blunt force to the head. Studies have found that over 60 percent of all soldiers wounded in an explosion, vehicle accidents, gunshot wound to the head or neck sustain a traumatic brain injury.
This legislation provides additional support for States to integrate veterans into community-based treatments after these heroes return home from combat.
This is a bill aimed at helping individuals who, due to traumatic experiences, may never live their lives the same way again. Senate bill 793 builds on current research and support systems to help vulnerable individuals lead a more comfortable, productive and independent life.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and, I, again, commend my colleague from New Jersey for his great leadership in advancing this cause.
