2025 Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act Update

Last year, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) made the passage of the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024 (TBI Act) our highest legislative priority. We are grateful for the many advocates from across the country who joined us in Washington, D.C. during Brain Injury Awareness Month to make their case to their elected members of Congress why this important bill needed to be passed.

Following months of negotiation, the bill was set to be included with many other bills in an end-of-the-year continuing resolution until House leadership changed the scope of the package at the last minute. As a result of the last-minute change, the TBI Act and many other critical healthcare-related bills have been in limbo, but BIAA is optimistic that there are several paths forward.

“We are working with our champions and allies on Capitol Hill to ensure the TBI Act is reauthorized as soon as possible,” said Rick Willis, president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America. “We have identified a few different pathways, including potential larger omnibus bills (i.e. large bill packets) to attach the reauthorization to.”

We will keep the brain injury community updated on the reauthorization in 2025 and will inform you of all advocacy opportunities to get the reauthorization passed as quickly as possible.

Why did the bill not get passed last year?

In 2024, Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the TBI Act, a critical piece of legislation aimed at renewing federal brain injury programs and grants. Advocates from across the nation united in Washington, D.C., urging Congress to support and pass this important reauthorization.

• After months of negotiations, the Senate and House of Representatives reached a compromise on the bill language.
• This compromise broadened the definition of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include acquired brain injury (ABI) and authorized a study to examine the lifelong impacts of brain injury.
• The agreed-upon language was included in the original continuing resolution—a bill to ensure federal operations continue beyond the end of the year.

However, in an unexpected setback, House leadership narrowed the scope of the continuing resolution, removing the reauthorization language for the TBI Act. Despite our community’s extraordinary efforts—sending hundreds of letters and making countless phone calls—the language did not make it into the final version of the resolution.

We deeply appreciate the tireless advocacy of everyone who advocated for this legislation over the past year. Rest assured, we remain committed to passing the reauthorization.

What now?

The prior TBI Act expired September 30, 2024. Despite not being reauthorized, brain injury programs continued, and the CDC has commissioned a study to look at the long-term effects of brain injury. Current operations were not defunded and will continue until they are directed not to.

BIAA is working with our champions on Capitol Hill to reintroduce the reauthorization act, identify an expedited timeline to have the act introduced in both chambers, and identify potential larger omnibus bills (i.e. large bill packets) to attach the reauthorization to.

We will keep the brain injury community updated on the reauthorization in 2025 and will inform you of all advocacy opportunities to get the reauthorization passed as quickly as possible.

To get involved with brain injury advocacy, join us for our National Brain Injury Conference and Awareness Day in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register here.