IV
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 40
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2009
Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Platts, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. McGovern, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Carney, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. George Miller of California, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Ross, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Holt, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Lamborn, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Ms. Sutton, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Sestak, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Nye, Mr. Markey of Massachusetts, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Holden, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Giffords, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Walz, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Hare, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, Mr. Braley of Iowa, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. Sires, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Mrs. Emerson, and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month.
Whereas traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the United States;
Whereas at least 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year;
Whereas each year, more than 125,000 of such Americans sustain permanent life-long disabilities from a traumatic brain injury, resulting in a life-altering experience that can include the most serious physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments;
Whereas every 21 seconds, one person in the United States sustains a traumatic brain injury;
Whereas at least 3.17 million Americans currently live with permanent disabilities resulting from a traumatic brain injury;
Whereas concussions are serious injuries to the brain and multiple concussions can lead to lifelong disability and death;
Whereas most cases of traumatic brain injury are preventable;
Whereas traumatic brain injuries cost the Nation $60 billion annually;
Whereas the lack of public awareness is so vast that
traumatic brain injury is known in the disability community as the Nation’s
silent epidemic
;
Whereas traumatic brain injury is the signature wound of the global war on terrorism as a result of roadside bombs and blasts;
Whereas the military personnel who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States in such war and who return to the United States with traumatic brain injuries will require additional Federal, State, and local resources;
Whereas the designation of a National Brain Injury Awareness Month will work toward enhancing public awareness of traumatic brain injury; and
Whereas the Brain Injury Association of America has recognized March as Brain Injury Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
recognizes the life-altering impact traumatic brain injury may have both on Americans living with the resultant disabilities and on their families;
recognizes the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury;
supports the designation of an appropriate month as National Brain Injury Awareness Month; and
encourages the President to issue a proclamation designating such a month.