MINNEAPOLIS, April 9, 2008—Spurred by the large number head injuries of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill boosting study of traumatic brain injury, and the development of new and better treatments.

The bill closely resembles legislation already OK'd by the Senate. The bill is expected to go to President Bush soon to be signed into law.

The bill, authored by Bill Pascrell, D-NJ, also supports Health Resources Service Administration grants to fund state projects to improve access to rehabilitation.

It commissions a study into military personnel who have incurred traumatic brain injuries while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, examining how they are being reintegrated into their communities.

Every year 1.5 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury from traffic and sports accidents, falls or violence, resulting in 50,000 deaths and 235,000 hospitalizations. Brain injury costs are estimated at $60 billion a year or more.

Source: House of Reps votes to reauthorize Pascrell’s traumatic brain injury act