Policy Corner: June 6, 2022
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
Senators Introduce TBI & PTSD Law Enforcement Training Bill
Similar to H.R. 2992 that passed the U.S. House of Representatives May 18, Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and John Kennedy (R-La.) have introduced S. 4286, the “TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act,” to implement several measures to better train law enforcement and first responders for interactions with individuals living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The bill would authorize funding through the U.S. Department of Justice to train responders to be better prepared to de-escalate any inappropriate behaviors or other issues and be equipped to refer individuals with brain injury to the appropriate professional help.
As Senator Ossoff is hoping the bill can be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee as soon as possible, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) urges advocates to contact their senators urging them to support S. 4286. BIAA has provided information on its Legislative Action Center to assist advocates in contacting their Senators. You may access the Legislative Action Center here.
House Judiciary Committee Advances Gun Safety Bills
Although the U.S. House of Representatives is still on Memorial Day recess, the House Judiciary Committee met this week to approve a package of eight-gun safety bills called the “Protecting Our Kids Act.” The package is aimed at preventing gun violence by raising the legal age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 and to establish new federal offenses for gun trafficking and for selling large capacity magazines.
The Senate is not expected to pass the legislation, although there is a bipartisan group of senators who are attempting to find common ground on gun policy. Research data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that gun related deaths among children has surpassed motor vehicle crash related deaths.