Policy Corner: January 11, 2019

116th Congress Convenes

Last week, U.S. Representatives and newly elected and re-elected Senators took their oaths of office and were officially sworn in. The House elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as the Speaker of the House. Since the House majority is now composed of democrats, leadership, including committee chairs, are now held by democratic representatives. The House has already voted on a package of legislative rules. The House voted to re-impose a ‘pay as you go’ requirement that would allow challenges to legislation that adds to the deficit. Key chairs that have been announced are as follows:

• Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), Chairwoman, House Appropriations Committee
• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Chairwoman, House Appropriations Subcommittee Labor-HHS-Education
• Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Chair, House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Chairman, Ways and Means Committee
• Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Chairman, Education and Labor Committee

Much of the business to date has focused on reopening the portion of federal government which has shut down due to lack of the Congress and the President approving an appropriation measure to fund these programs. This does not affect the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Labor, Defense or Health and Human Services. However, the lack of funding impacts programs funded by the Women Against Violence Act, as well as funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as food stamps, which is to be funded through February.

Save the Date: Congressional Brain Injury Task Force Plans Awareness Day

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force has made arrangements for Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, which will take place March 13. The schedule for the day is:

• Awareness Fair, Rayburn House Office Building (RHOB) Foyer, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Briefing, RHOB 2168, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Reception, RHOB 2168, 5-7 p.m.

Stay tuned for further information. Meanwhile, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has scheduled a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Stakeholder Day March 12 and a brown bag lunch during Brain Injury Awareness Day. ACL’s TBI Stakeholder Day is an opportunity for members of the brain injury community to come to Washington, D.C., to hear about and discuss important issues related to TBI with other stakeholders, brain injury survivors, family members, support networks, and state and federal representatives. To attend the ACL meeting, please RSVP by March 8 or call 202-795-7604. Please include any reasonable accommodation requests along with your RSVP. ACL will provide the exact location and other meeting details as the date approaches. If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to contact ACL at TBI@acl.gov.

ACL Seeks Input Regarding Next TBI Technical Assistance Center Contract

ACL is seeking your best thoughts and ideas regarding the activities of and the supports and services provided by the next TBI technical assistance and resource center. ACL will award a new contract for the resource center in September and is interested in hearing from the entire TBI community. This is an opportunity to provide your thoughts as to how the next technical assistance and resource center may assist state grantees as well as how the center may assist service delivery and the TBI field overall. Comments should be submitted electronically to TBI@acl.gov with “Thoughts and Ideas” in the subject line. Comments must be received by January 30.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action.