H.R. 1493House119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed House

To reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 24, 2026 at 3:52 AM UTC

The bill reauthorizes and upgrades federal programs that prevent, detect, and treat traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It expands data collection to include prevalence, risk factors, and high‑risk groups such as occupational workers and victims of violence, and requires the CDC to make this information publicly available. It also provides new funding for national and state programs, adds reporting requirements, and mandates a study on long‑term effects of TBI.

Key Provisions

Amends the Public Health Service Act to add TBI prevalence, risk‑factor data, and focus on populations at higher risk (e.g., certain occupations, domestic violence victims).
Updates the national TBI surveillance and registry program to collect detailed cause, occupation, and short‑ and long‑term outcome data, and requires CDC to post aggregated information online.
Authorizes $9.25 million per fiscal year (2026‑2030) for the national program and $13.118 million per fiscal year for state and tribal programs supporting TBI projects.
Expands state grant eligibility to include tribal entities, adds matching‑fund waivers, and requires states to maintain non‑federal spending levels.
Mandates a congressional report within two years on high‑risk populations, data gaps, and outreach efforts.
Directs the HHS Secretary to conduct a study on chronic TBI symptoms, links to conditions like dementia, and to publish the findings within two years.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 21, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 21, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 21, 2025

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 21, 2026

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 43 - 0.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 21, 2026

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-720.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 2, 2026

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 625.

July 2, 2026

HouseFloor

Mr. Guthrie moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

July 20, 2026 • 3:38 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4646-4648)

July 20, 2026 • 3:39 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1493.

July 20, 2026 • 3:39 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4646-4647)

July 20, 2026 • 3:46 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4646-4647)

July 20, 2026 • 3:46 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

July 20, 2026 • 3:46 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 21, 2026

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 1493 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.D-NJ-6 · Jul 20, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1493, my bill to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996. This bipartisan legislation…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1493, my bill to reauthorize the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996.

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes through fiscal year 2030 the critical Federal programs dedicated to the prevention, detection, treatment, and surveillance of traumatic brain injuries. It also renames the national TBI surveillance program to honor the legacy of my dear friend, the late Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr., of New Jersey, who founded and led the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force for more than two decades after meeting his constituent Dennis Benigno of Clifton, New Jersey, whose son suffered a life-changing traumatic brain injury in a car crash.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Act was signed into law in 1996. At that time, our understanding of these injuries was so limited that public health experts called TBI the silent epidemic, and we did not know how many Americans were affected each year, who was most at risk, or how many people were left with a permanent, life-altering disability.

That first law authorized Federal support and programs to research TBI research and conduct surveillance, both directly and through grants to public and nonprofit organizations.

Mr. Speaker, this initial Federal investment has transformed what we know now and identified what we still need to do. Because Congress chose to invest, we now know that traumatic brain injury sends more than 214,000 Americans to the hospital in a single year and that it takes roughly 69,000 lives annually, nearly 190 deaths every single day.

We know that more than 5.3 million Americans are living today with a lifelong disability caused by a brain injury, and we know who is most at risk: older adults who fall, servicemembers and veterans, athletes on playing fields across the country, victims of domestic violence, and far, far too many children. There is also the economic toll of treating, rehabilitating, and caring for these individuals throughout their lives.

Mr. Speaker, Congress' investment gave us the tools to act on what the data revealed, from concussion guidelines to protect young athletes to targeted prevention for the older Americans who are most likely to be hospitalized. None of that existed before the Federal partnership and Representative Pascrell's leadership. All of that is at risk if we continue to allow this work to lapse.

Since the program's inception in 1996, Congress has reauthorized this act on a bipartisan basis time and again. However, despite bipartisan efforts by our committee to continue reauthorizing these programs, the Federal authorization lapsed in 2024. Without reauthorization, research slows, surveillance weakens, and the support services that patients and families depend on are put in jeopardy. We cannot afford to lose momentum on an issue that touches veterans, athletes, survivors of violence, older adults, and countless other Americans in every one of our districts.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1493 renews three proven programs. First, it reauthorizes the CDC's TBI program, which drives our national research, surveillance, and prevention efforts. Second, it reauthorizes the Administration for Community Living's State partnership grant programs, which helps States, Tribal organizations, and their partners connect survivors to rehabilitation and community-based services. Third, it reauthorizes the State Protection and Advocacy program, which safeguards the rights of Americans living with brain injury.

This is a modest Federal investment with an extraordinary reach. Since 1997, 48 States, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia have used these partnership grants to build the very systems that their residents now rely on.

This bill does not simply extend those programs but strengthens them. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study and report to Congress on traumatic brain injury, and it directs the CDC to publish information on the populations at highest risk and on the strategies to protect them so that Congress and our

public health officials can respond to the growing needs of these communities with better data and clear priorities.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that benefits all Americans. It advanced out of committee without a single dissenting vote. This bill supports research. It strengthens care, and it helps ensure that Americans living with traumatic brain injuries are not left behind.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill on a bipartisan basis, in part because of how important it is but in part also because it honors my friend Congressman Bill Pascrell.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2 · Jul 20, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1493) to reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued July 21, 2026

IIB

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 1493

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 21, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

AN ACT

To reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and for other purposes.

Programs to prevent, detect, and treat traumatic brain injuries

(a)

The Bill Pascrell, Jr., national program for traumatic brain injury surveillance and registries

(1)

Prevention of traumatic brain injury

Section 393B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b–1c) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a), by inserting and prevalence after incidence;

(B)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by inserting and reduction of associated injuries and fatalities before the semicolon;

(ii)

in paragraph (2), by inserting and related risk factors before the semicolon; and

(iii)

in paragraph (3)—

(I)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2020 each place it appears and inserting 2030; and

(II)

in subparagraph (A)—

(aa)

in clause (i), by striking ; and and inserting of traumatic brain injury;;

(bb)

by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iv);

(cc)

by inserting after clause (i) the following:

(ii)

populations at higher risk of traumatic brain injury, including populations whose increased risk is due to occupational or circumstantial factors;

(iii)

causes of, and risk factors for, traumatic brain injury; and

; and

(dd)

in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking arising from traumatic brain injury and inserting , which may include related mental health and other conditions, arising from traumatic brain injury, including; and

(C)

in subsection (c), by inserting , and other relevant Federal departments and agencies before the period at the end.

(2)

National program for traumatic brain injury surveillance and registries

Section 393C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b–1d) is amended—

(A)

by amending the section heading to read as follows: The Bill Pascrell, Jr., national program for traumatic brain injury surveillance and registries;

(B)

in subsection (a)—

(i)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting to identify populations that may be at higher risk for traumatic brain injuries, to collect data on the causes of, and risk factors for, traumatic brain injuries, after related disability,;

(ii)

in paragraph (1), by inserting , including the occupation of the individual, when relevant to the circumstances surrounding the injury before the semicolon; and

(iii)

in paragraph (4), by inserting short- and long-term before outcomes;

(C)

by striking subsection (b);

(D)

by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b);

(E)

in subsection (b), as so redesignated, by inserting and evidence-based practices to identify and address concussion before the period at the end; and

(F)

by adding at the end the following:

(c)

Availability of information

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall make publicly available aggregated information on traumatic brain injury and concussion described in this section, including on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such website, to the extent feasible, shall include aggregated information on populations that may be at higher risk for traumatic brain injuries and strategies for preventing or reducing risk of traumatic brain injury that are tailored to such populations.

(3)

Authorization of appropriations

Section 394A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b–3) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a), by striking 1994, and and inserting 1994,; and

(B)

in subsection (b), by striking appropriated and all that follows through 2024 and inserting appropriated $9,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(b)

State grant programs

(1)

State grants for projects regarding traumatic brain injury

Section 1252 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–52) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (b)(2)—

(i)

by inserting , taking into consideration populations that may be at higher risk for traumatic brain injuries after outreach programs; and

(ii)

by inserting Tribal, after State,;

(B)

in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Maintenance of effort

With respect to activities for which a grant awarded under subsection (a) is to be expended, a State or American Indian consortium shall agree to maintain expenditures of non-Federal amounts for such activities at a level that is not less than the level of such expenditures maintained by the State or American Indian consortium for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the State or American Indian consortium receives such a grant.

(4)

Waiver

The Secretary may, upon the request of a State or American Indian consortium, waive not more than 50 percent of the matching fund amount under paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines that such matching fund amount would result in an inability of the State or American Indian consortium to carry out the purposes under subsection (a). A waiver provided by the Secretary under this paragraph shall apply only to the fiscal year involved.

;

(C)

in subsection (e)(3)(B)—

(i)

by striking (such as third party payers, State agencies, community-based providers, schools, and educators); and

(ii)

by inserting (such as third party payers, State agencies, community-based providers, schools, and educators) after professionals;

(D)

in subsection (h), by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:

(1)

American Indian consortium; State

The terms American Indian consortium and State have the meanings given such terms in section 1253.

(2)

Traumatic brain injury

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the term traumatic brain injury—

(i)

means an acquired injury to the brain;

(ii)

may include—

(I)

brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma; and

(II)

damage to the brain from an internal or external source that results in infection, toxicity, surgery, or vascular disorders not associated with aging; and

(iii)

does not include brain dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders, or birth trauma.

(B)

Revisions to definition

The Secretary may revise the definition of the term traumatic brain injury under this paragraph, as the Secretary determines necessary, after consultation with States and other appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.

; and

(E)

by striking subsection (i).

(2)

State grants for protection and advocacy services

Section 1253 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–53) is amended by striking subsection (l).

(3)

Authorization of appropriations

Part E of title XII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–51 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1253 (42 U.S.C. 300d–53) the following:

1253A.

Authorization of appropriations for State programs relating to Traumatic Brain Injury

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out sections 1252 and 1253 $13,118,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(c)

Report to Congress

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that contains—

(1)

an overview of populations who may be at higher risk for traumatic brain injury, such as individuals affected by domestic violence or sexual assault and public safety officers as defined in section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284);

(2)

an outline of existing surveys and activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on traumatic brain injuries and any steps the agency has taken to address gaps in data collection related to such higher risk populations, which may include leveraging surveys such as the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey to collect data on traumatic brain injuries;

(3)

an overview of any outreach or education efforts to reach such higher risk populations; and

(4)

any challenges associated with reaching such higher risk populations.

(d)

Study on long-Term symptoms or conditions related to traumatic brain injury

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall conduct, either directly or through a contract with a nonprofit private entity, a study to—

(A)

examine the incidence and prevalence of long-term or chronic symptoms or conditions in individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury;

(B)

examine the evidence base of research related to the chronic effects of traumatic brain injury across the lifespan;

(C)

examine any correlations between traumatic brain injury and increased risk of other conditions, such as dementia and mental health conditions;

(D)

assess existing services available for individuals with such long-term or chronic symptoms or conditions; and

(E)

identify any gaps in research related to such long-term or chronic symptoms or conditions of individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury.

(2)

Public report

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(A)

submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report detailing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study described in paragraph (1); and

(B)

in the case that such study is conducted directly by the Secretary, make the report described in subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2026.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.