BIAA News

TBI Reauthorization Act Reintroduced in the Senate

U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Andy Kim (D-NJ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 to ensure numerous critical grant programs are able to continue to provide essential care and resources for those with traumatic brain injuries.

“We commend Senator Mullin and Senator Kim and other cosponsors for their leadership in introducing the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Reauthorization Act in the United States Senate,” said Rick Willis, President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). “This critical legislation supports the continuation of federal programs that provide life-changing services, prevention initiatives, and research opportunities for the millions of Americans living with brain injury and their families.”

This year’s reauthorization makes important strides to better reflect the reality of brain injury. For the first time, the legislation expands the definition of TBI to include all acquired brain injuries (ABI), ensuring that survivors of anoxia, tumors, infections, and other acquired causes are recognized and served. The TBI Reauthorization Act positions the United States to better serve survivors, strengthen data, and advance policies that address the true scope of brain injury.

BIAA Announces Newly Formed Brain Injury Action Coalition

BIAA is excited to announce the launch of the Brain Injury Action Coalition, a new program with the goal of identifying and prioritizing the most promising solutions and approaches to accelerating advancements in brain injury treatment and prevention. Michael S. Jaffee, MD, FAAN, FANA, has been appointed chairperson of the Brain Injury Action Coalition.

The Brain Injury Action Coalition was formed in response to the challenges faced by the brain injury community, including insufficient federal funding for brain injury programs and research, a lack of FDA-approved TBI therapeutics or diagnostics, and coordination challenges among federal agencies involved in brain injury.

The Brain Injury Action Coalition will prioritize the adoption of a federal Brain Injury National Action Plan, which will prioritize brain injury prevention, research, and care coordination while also determining mechanisms to enhance data collection and federal funding.

Brain Injury Organizations Release Joint Statement on Improving Communication about Brain Injury

BIAA and a group of brain injury organizations and advocates have released a joint statement aimed at improving how brain injuries are discussed and understood. The guidance document, titled Communicating about Brain Injury, was developed collaboratively by healthcare providers, researchers, and people with lived experience of brain injury.

The statement provides a definition of brain injury and its causes, that it can develop into a long-term chronic health condition, and that it can sometimes lead to disability. The statement also includes 12 things to consider when talking about brain injury.

To read more about these stories, visit biausa.org/news.