A bipartisan bill, authored by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and meant to improve care for veterans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), passed both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on Monday.
The Veteran Traumatic Brain Injury Care Act amends parts of the National Defense Authorization Act from 2008 to change reporting requirements for a program that tracks the efficacy of the assistance provided to veterans who suffered TBIs while in the military. It is meant to make sure treatments are effective and improve quality of life.
Under requirements of the bill, the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs must provide quarterly reports to the congressional veterans committees in both the House and Senate. The reports must include the number of individuals who have participated and completed the program, the rating of the program by participants and their families, and conclusions regarding the success of the program and means to improve it. The reports would be due between Jan. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2017.
This bill is co-sponsored by four Republicans and two Democrats — the most recent co-sponsor joining in September was Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Other sponsors include Reps. David Jolly (R-Fla.), Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) and original co-sponsor Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)