CALL TO ACTION on    -    HR #6123

Veterans’ Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Tim Walz, co-signed by co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force: Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. It provides complete treatment of Veterans with TBI, including physical and mental health and life-needs for achieving the best life outcome following treatment, to maximize the individual’s independence and quality of life during and after treatment.

Contact your Representatives - search by state or name. This Bill was just introduced last year and needs our support to get through the House. Use the Script below to deliver your message.

Sample Script

My name is .......................

I am Congressman/woman ..................’s constituent.

I am calling to ask the Congressman/woman to support and Co-sponsor House Resolution 6123, the Rehabilitative Services for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act.

My (family member/loved one/friend) is disabled due to a Traumatic Brain Injury in (year).

I want to see that our youth are protected, treated and diagnosed promptly after a suspected concussion that may lead to a brain injury. House Resolution 6123 will establish concussion guidelines for school age children.

Thank you for your support/interest.   

CALL TO ACTION on    -    HR #1347 - ConTACT Act of 2009

The Concussion Treatment & Care Tools Act of 2009, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 (HR 1347) is a bill that would direct the Health and Human Services Department to establish concussion management guidelines for school-aged children and authorize state grants to collect information on the prevalence of concussions among these children, a fine example of the type of legislation developed in conjunction with our Brain Injury Associations. CLICK “Full Text” for a complete explanation of what the Resolution covers.

Contact your Representatives - search by state or name. Congressmen Pascrell and Platts are working on getting the ConTACT Act through the Energy and Commerce Committee, onto the floor of the House. Ask your Congress-persons to co-sponsor this Bill. Use the Script below.

Sample Script

My name is .......................

I am Congressman..................’s or Congresswoman ..................’s constituent.

I am calling to ask the Congressman/woman to support and Co-sponsor House Resolution 1347, the ConTACT Act.

My (family member/loved one/friend) is disabled due to a Traumatic Brain Injury in (year).

I want to see that our youth are protected, treated and diagnosed promptly after a suspected concussion that may lead to a brain injury.

House Bill 1347 will establish concussion guidelines for school age children.

Thank you for your support/interest.

CALL TO ACTION on    -    HR #1205  &  S #493

The ABLE Act, text of the Bill, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009 (H.R. 1205/S. 493) will give persons living with disabilities the permission to save money in ABLE Accounts (tax-exempt savings accounts that can be used for certain specified items, such as work expenses).

Contact your Senators - search by state or name.

Contact your Representatives - search by state or name.

Check this list of Co-sponsors for their names. If they are listed here, email or call to thank them for their sponsorship.

If they are not already a Co-sponsor, email or call to ask them to join the list of Co-sponsors. Give them your reason for the need for this Act to become Law, so your family member or loved one can save for their old age.

Sample Script

My name is .......................

I am Senator ..................’s  or  Congressman/woman......................‘s constituent.

I am calling to ask the Senator to support and Co-sponsor Senate Bill 493, the ABLE Act  or  House Resolution 1205, the ABLE Act.

My (family member/loved one/friend) is disabled due to a Traumatic Brain Injury in (year).

S/he lives on (SSI, SSDI, or state benefits alone). S/he wants to work, but if s/he earns/saves $2,000 or more s/he will lose the benefits, so s/he is unable to save any more towards her/his future older years.

Senate Bill 493 or House Resolution 1205 will allow her to save money s/he might earn if s/he should be able to earn any income from (list any type of work/sheltered workshop) they might be able to do.

Thank you for your support/interest.

CALL TO ACTION on    -    Medicaid Estate Recovery Program OBRA ‘93

Contact your Senators - search by state or name.

Contact your Representatives - search by state or name.

Email and/or call to ask them to sponsor a bill that will repeal the Medical Estate Recovery Program. Give them your reason for the need for this change in federal law, so your family member or loved one can continue to live in the home in which your deceased family member had a share in ownership, and formerly received Medicaid-paid services.

Sample Script

My name is .......................

I am Senator/Representative ..................’s constituent.

I am calling to ask the Senator to change/repeal the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA ‘93) that requires states to implement a Medicaid Estate Recovery Program.

My (family member/loved one/friend) is disabled due to a Traumatic Brain Injury in (year).

S/he lives on (SSI, SSDI, or state benefits alone), and she has a trust that will buy a home for her where our mother/brother, etc. will live with her and take care of her and of the home or s/he has no additional resources, but s/he lives with (family member or friend) and (name your situation, such as when the family member or friend dies s/he will have no place to live, but the family member or friend wants to leave the home to our TBI loved one.

If (my state) continues to enforce its Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, and if my sister dies unexpectedly, or becomes permanently institutionalized, the state will take the home, leaving my mother/brother, etc. without a home during their older years.

My mother/brother should be allowed to own/inherit the home due to the fact that s/he spent her life trying to keep my sister safe, and my sister would want her/him to have the house.

Thank you for your support/interest.