• Current Initiatives

Current Initiatives

The ABI Waiver Program

The ABI Waiver Program, a Medicaid home- and community-based waiver program, has been renewed for five years. However, BIAC is concerned that some of the program’s provisions could make it difficult for survivors of brain injury to access the services they need to live in the community. As a result, we are working with legislators in hopes of gaining increased funding for the program in order to alleviate some of our concerns.  We will keep this site updated as to the status of this specific initiative.

For more information on other bills being introduced this session, or to find out who your representative or senator is, please go to the following link: www.cga.ct.gov.

National Advocacy

Urge Congress to Retain Funding Levels for TBI Programs

Don't Let TBI Funding Be Cut as Appropriations Negotiations Go Forward

On November 15,  2007, the House of Representatives failed to override President Bush's veto of the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, which contains important funding for TBI programs.

Despite a great deal of advocacy by many individuals and organizations, including BIAA, the House came up two votes short (277-141) of the necessary two-thirds majority needed to override the president’s veto.

The bill provides $9.455 million for the HRSA Federal TBI program, over the total $8.910 million allocated last year.  Likewise, the bill includes $5.960 million in funding for CDC TBI programs, an increase from approximately $5.3 million last year.  Also of key importance, the bill includes $900,000 in additional funding for the TBI Model Systems of Care program, which BIAA fought hard for this year, in order to prevent this important research program from being downsized.

When Congress reconvenes in December after a two-week Thanksgiving Recess, it is expected that Democratic leaders will pursue a compromise multi-bill “omnibus” appropriations package that would split the difference between the White House and Congressional budget proposals.  Such a bill is expected to include a cut of $3.5 billion in funding from the recently passed Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.
  
Please contact your Representative and Senators TODAY and urge them to retain the current funding levels for TBI programs - including the CDC and HRSA TBI programs, as well as the important stopgap funding for the TBI Model Systems of Care program.  For the greatest impact, please call your Representative and Senators, in addition to sending an email.  The Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121 -- just ask to be connected to your Representative and Senators.

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Tell Congressional Leadership Not to Delay Defense Authorization Bill

The Senate version of this important legislation contains the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act - including important TBI provisions

A conference agreement on the Fiscal Year 2008 defense authorization bill was reportedly completed the week of November 12, 2007, yet the conference report never made it the floor of the House or Senate.  According to media reports, the bill did not receive floor consideration by either chamber, due to indecision by the Democratic leadership over whether to include provisions related to the war in Iraq and an unrelated domestic matter. BIAA has been actively working for inclusion in the final defense authorization conference report of important TBI-related provisions contained in the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which was incorporated as part of the Senate’s version of the defense authorization bill.  For more information about the TBI provisions in the Senate’s version of the defense authorization bill, please visit the Policy & Legislation page on BIAA’s website, available at http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm.
 
Please contact your Representative and Senators as soon as possible, and urge them to ensure that when Congress returns from Thanksgiving Recess, the defense authorization bill is not further delayed due to political bickering over Iraq, or indecision over whether to include language in the bill that would expand race-based hate-crime laws.  In addition, please urge your Representative and Senators to vote for swift passage of this important bill, which would help the wounded heroes who are already home.

In response to the delay of consideration of the defense authorization bill, BIAA recently joined several other groups in writing a letter to House and Senate leadership imploring them to pass the bill as soon as possible.  The letter was spearheaded by the Wounded Warrior Project, and, in addition to BIAA, was also signed by the National Military Families Association and the Blinded Veterans Association.  Addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the letter states, “While we understand your concern with ensuring the well-being of our troops currently on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, we believe that this bill must be made the priority so that the wounded heroes who are already home, and the ones who may be home tomorrow, can begin taking advantage of the improvements in care and benefits this bill will provide.”