Policy Corner: July 8, 2022
Categories: Policy Corner Archives
Senate HELP Committee Passes Bill Banning the Use of Electrical Stimulation Devices for Managing Behavior
On June 14, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced S. 4348, the “Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safety and Landmark Advancements Act of 2022,” that would prohibit the use of electrical stimulation devices that are used to limit a person’s aggressive or self-injurious behavior. The FDA has determined that these devices present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury that cannot be corrected or eliminated by labeling. This method had been cited as use at one school in Massachusetts. The bill was introduced by HELP Committee Chair, Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
President Signs Bill to Curb Gun Violence
On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the bipartisan “Safer Communities Act” to help curb gun violence. The Act will close the “boyfriend loophole;” authorizes funding to implement red flag laws; improve background checks; and more. The bill also includes significant investments for mental health services for children and family. Red flag laws generally permit police to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who they believe may present a danger to others or themselves.
Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Improve the Cognitive and Brain Health of Servicemembers
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who is also co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBITF), introduced H.R. 8141, “Warrior Brain Health Act of 2022,” on June 17. The legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to establish an initiative to unify efforts and programs across the Department of Defense to improve the cognitive performance and brain health of members of the Armed Forces. The bill calls for the program to monitor cognitive brain health beginning upon the accession of a member to the Armed Forces and repeated at regular intervals thereafter, with the goal of detecting any need for cognitive enhancement or restoration resulting from potential brain exposures of the member and to mitigate possible evolution of injury or disease progression. Through education, training, prevention, protection, monitoring, detection, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, the bill proposes to enhance, maintain and restore the cognitive performance of members of the Armed Forces.
Congressional Neuroscience Caucus Promotes Brain Awareness Through Briefings
The bipartisan Congressional Neuroscience Caucus, which promotes a better understanding of how the brain develops, functions, and ages, has recently held briefings of interest. Co-chaired by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Earl Blumenaurer (D-Ore.), the caucus held the “Congressional BRAIN Initiative Briefing on the Importance of Neuroethics” on June 23, and on “Long Haul Neurological and Psychological Impacts from COVID-19,” on May 18.
The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative and the associated researchers are helping advance our understanding of the mind and brain and in the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disorders. The briefing explored the responsible use of advances in brain science and the importance of fostering civic engagement.
The May 18th briefing featured Dr. Igor Koralnik, Chief of Neuro-infectious Disease & Global Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who opened the briefing and shared that he and his colleagues created one of the first neuro-COVID-19 clinics in the country at Northwestern, where they investigate, diagnose, and manage the symptoms of COVID-19 “long-haulers.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define Long COVID syndrome as a wider range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Symptoms persist at least four weeks after infection. Long COVID may happen to anybody who was infected and there is no specific diagnostic test. Neurologic symptoms of Long COVID include, but are not limited to, brain fog, headache, numbness/tingling, dizziness, pain, and blurred vision.
Danielle Kirk, a patient advocate and survivor of severe traumatic brain Injury with resulting bipolar disorder, shared her personal experience of contracting COVID-19 and Long COVID twice within 16 weeks. She reported that she was bedridden for 5 weeks and could manage only a very light schedule for the other 9 weeks. The symptoms included extreme exhaustion, severe brain fog, memory issues, vertigo, and swollen glands. Ms. Kirk’s memory issues were so impacted that she was unable to give her presentation from memory, as per usual throughout her professional history. Ms. Kirk still suffers with Long COVID, but the symptoms are much more manageable.