Proposed changes affect budgets and services of federal health programs
Calls and Emails are Needed by April 25, 2025.
Changes and Impact on Persons with Brain Injury
- Brain injury-related research eliminated.
- NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research) programs eliminated. NIDILRR is the primary source of rehabilitation research, advances in care, and rehabilitation best-practices.
- Advances in treatment and rehabilitation could end or be stalled, due to program elimination.
Persons with brain injury can be hurt by no research on best practice care, treatments, and long-term outcomes.
CDC brain injury-related initiatives eliminated.
The CDC resources of the HEADS-UP Concussion Education and Prevention program will not be available to schools, families, and communities.
The frequency of concussions will not be known due to the closing of the National Concussion Surveillance System.
No education, support, or data on concussions will leave individuals to endure challenges. Many of these challenges could have been prevented.
Youth and adults can be at risk of long-term concussion effects from these budget cuts.
Funding for programs addressing brain injury reduced.
Proposed budget cuts of federal health programs that can affect survivors include
- Missouri Violence and Injury Prevention
- Elderly Falls Prevention Programs
- Missouri Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Lifespan Respite Care Program
- Missouri Assistive Technology
Proposed federal budget cuts to health programs can result in more brain injuries, less support, and limited outcomes for persons with brain injury.
Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)
A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget draft, shows that the Administration seeks to deeply slash budgets for federal health programs by cutting discretionary spending for HHS by approximately one-third.
The Brain Injury Association of America is categorically opposed to the proposed elimination, restructuring, and funding cuts to brain injury programs within HHS.
The 64-page proposed budget document calls for cutting some programs entirely while shuffling and restructuring other health and human service agencies. It also creates a new $20 billion agency named the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), which would include pieces of other agencies that are being consolidated.
Many brain injury programs are among the proposed cuts.
ACTION ALERT:
Call and email your U.S. Repesentative today. Urge them to sign the bipartisan Luttrell-Deluzio Appropriations Letter, which calls on Congress to protect and sustain funding for vital brain injury programs in the upcoming federal budget.
Raise your voice.
Contact your U.S. House of Representative and U.S. Senators by April 25, 2025.
Urge them to ensure that brain injury programs are protected and preserved in every structure of HHS or AHA Departments.
Brain injury programs are not optional. They are lifesaving, life-changing, and essential for individuals, families, and communities across the country.
Contact your U.S. Congressperson:
Wesley Bell – District 1
Email Rep. Bell
Washington DC Office – 202-225-2406
Mark Alford – District 4
Email Rep. Alford
Washington DC Office – 202-225-2876
Eric Burlison – District 7
Email Rep. Burlison
Washington DC Office – 202-225-6536
Ann Wagner – District 2
Email Rep. Wagner
Washington DC Office – 202-225-1621
Emanuel Cleaver – District 5
Email Rep. Cleaver
Washington DC Office – 202-225-4535
Jason Smith – District 8
Email Rep. Smith
Washington DC Office – 202-225-4404
Robert Onder – District 3
Email Rep. Onder
Washington DC Office – 202-225-2956
Sam Graves – District 6
Email Rep. Graves
Washington DC Office – 202-225-7041
Thank you in advance for contacting your elected officials.
Contact Both U.S. Senators:
Josh Hawley:
Email Sen. Hawley
Washington DC Office – 202-224-6154
Eric Schmitt:
Email Sen. Schmitt
Washington DC Office – 202-224-5721