Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) recently joined a bipartisan effort to urge President Obama to implement the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury plan.
“As a former professional athlete, I truly understand the seriousness of pediatric acquired brain injury,” Runyan said. “The implementation of the PABI plan would make a real difference in the lives of children and their families who are suffering from an acquired brain injury and help combat this public health crisis.”
Runyan joined a bipartisan group of more than 100 members of Congress in calling for the president to implement the PABI plan to combat pediatric brain injury.
Brain injuries can be caused by car accidents, sports concussions, child abuse, falls, injuries sustained in war and non-traumatic conditions like epilepsy and seizure disorders. More than 765,000 Americans who are younger than 25 seek emergency room care for a brain injury each year.
“The millions of families who have a child or young adult with a brain injury are very grateful for the continued bipartisan congressional support to develop a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care for American youth who suffer from a brain injury,” Sarah Jane Brain Foundation Founder Patrick Donohue said. “We have the utmost confidence President Obama will act on this public health crisis.”
A lack of federal support for brain injury research during the past three decades has led to a fragmented care system that is different in each state and doctor’s office.
Supporters of the PABI plan said its implementation would not require legislation or appropriation of new funds and it would improve the lives of those who suffer acquired brain injuries.