Policy Corner: March 19, 2021

House Renews Domestic Violence Bill

The House of Representatives passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 2021 Wednesday; the bill has been sent to the Senate, where it faces major obstacles. Introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), H.R. 1620 makes new investments in preventions, improved services for victims of domestic violence, improvements in the criminal justice response to gender-based violence and the health care system’s response, prevents intimate partner homicides, and expands protections for victims and survivors – whether they are men or women. The law was last reauthorized in 2013, but it lapsed at the end of 2018 after Congress failed to act due to partisan disputes over guns and transgender issues.

CBITF Chairs Circulate “Dear Colleague” Letter to Support TBI Appropriations

The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force co-chairs, Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Nebr.), are circulating two letters to enlist Congressional Member support for appropriation of funds for traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs provided by the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services. The co-chairs are circulating one sign on letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Committee on Appropriations requesting funding for TBI programs for Fiscal Year 2022 in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill. The amount requested is:

• $11.7 million for the National Concussion Surveillance System, CDC;
• $19 million for State TBI Programs and $6 million for TBI Protection & Advocacy systems; and
• $15 million increase over five years for TBI Model Systems of Care at the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.

The second sign on letter is to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations requesting funding for programs for Department of Defense TBI programs in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations Bill.

The deadline for Congressional Members to sign on is April 10. Advocates are encouraged to request that their U.S. Representative sign on to the letters. They may email Carrie Swope in Rep. Pascrell’s office if they have questions or wish to sign on.

Senate Confirms HHS Secretary

The Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary earlier this week. He previously was the California Attorney General and a former U.S. Representative. The Department of Health and Human Services administers approved programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, TBI Act, and other disability and aging programs administered by the Administration for Community Living, CDC, and NIH. Becerra will be responsible for carrying out the president’s plans to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been an outspoken advocate for women’s health, the rights of undocumented immigrants, and Medicare for All. Becerra is the first Latino appointed to the position.

BIAA gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Neuro Skills and Avanir Pharmaceuticals for their support for legislative action. Click here to read past issues of Policy Corner.