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Learn about the Brain Injury Association of America
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the country’s oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. BIANC is a state affiliate of the BIAA.
BIAA’s Mission
Our mission is to be the voice of brain injury. Through advocacy, education and research, we bring help, hope and healing to millions of individuals living with brain injury, their families and the professionals who serve them.
2013 BIAA Legislative Agenda/Issue Briefs
BIAA encourages all advocates to use these issue briefs when working with national, state and local government officials on critical public policy issues for people with brain injury, including: access to care,research, TBI Act appropriations and reauthorization, and membership in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.
2013 BIAA Federal and State Public Policy Platform
Click here to download BIAA's public policy platform.Latest Policy Corner News - March 22, 2013 To sign up to receive BIAA's Policy Corner weeklyE - Newsletter, click here !
TBI Act Reauthorization
On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the TBI Act, H.R. 1098, was introduced by Reps. Pascrell and Rooney, co-chairs of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. This bill will reauthorize the current programs relating to TBI and also will move the state grant and protection and advocacy grant programs from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to another agency with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The move acknowledges the impact of TBI across the age span, including older adults and returning service members/veterans. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force recommends relocating the program to better coordinate with federal agencies regarding long-term services and supports available to individuals with other disabilities, particularly the long-term services and supports provision of the Affordable Care Act. BIAA thanks Reps. Pascrell and Rooney for introducing this important legislation. Please call your Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 1098 today!
2013 Advocacy Message
Happy New Year! The Brain Injury Association of America welcomes the new and returning members to the 113th Congress. BIAA is poised to take on both the opportunities and difficulties this new Congress presents.
With the 2012 election behind us, President Obama maintained his job as Commander in Chief; the Senate remained a Democratic majority and the House of Representatives remained Republican, BIAA looks forward to the challenges ahead. With the fiscal cliff averted, policymakers are focused on the debt ceiling and resolving the sequester.The Continuing Resolution (CR) that is funding the federal government will expire on March 27, 2013. BIAA will continue to monitor all budget discussions moving forward in the new Congress.
Amidst the politicking, BIAA will continue to advocate with the support of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBITF), a bi-partisan caucus of more than 120 members of Congress, led by Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., (NJ-D). Congressman Platts, the previous co-chair of the CBITF retired at the end of the 112th Congress. BIAA thanks Rep. Platts for his tireless work for individuals with brain injury and their families. Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-R) has been invited by Rep. Pascrell to be the next Co-Chair of the CBITF. BIAA looks forward to working with the CBITF to advocate for all individuals that are impacted by brain injury.
Our goals this year are to sustain and bolster brain injury programs, increase access to care and preserve vital brain injury research. As in 2012, appropriations increases in 2013 are unlikely, but there are still many opportunities to advance our cause.
History
The Brain Injury Association of America was founded by individuals who wanted to improve the quality of life for their family members and patients who had sustained brain injuries.
Brain injury is not an event or an outcome. It is the start of a misdiagnosed, misunderstood, under-funded neurological disease. Individuals who sustain brain injuries must have timely access to expert trauma care, specialized rehabilitation, lifelong disease management and individualized services and supports in order to live healthy, independent and satisfying lives.
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the voice of brain injury. We are dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury through advocacy, education and research. With a nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates and hundreds of local chapters and support groups, we provide help, hope and healing for individuals who live with brain injury, their families and the professionals who serve them.
BIAA’s website: www.biausa.org
Advocacy & Government Affairs
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the voice of brain injury on Capitol Hill. We tirelessly advocate for greater access to care for civilian and military populations, expanded brain injury research, adequate resources for state programs and increased congressional awareness of brain injury issues, among other priorities.
