BIAA Legislative Update January 2008
BIAA policy corner coordinator Laura Schiebelhut asked to post this latest legislative update.
The Senate passed this week a slightly revised version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986), following House approval of the same bill last week. Important wounded warrior provisions related to TBI care remain unchanged in the new version, which President Bush is expected to sign into law shortly.
Also this week, negotiations ensued over an economic stimulus package, resulting in a bipartisan agreement by the week’s end. BIAA signed on to a coalition letter urging House and Senate leaders to raise Medicaid reimbursement to states.
In addition, on Tuesday, Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) unveiled, “Guidelines for Assisting Those with Accessibility Needs,” a manual designed to make congressional offices more accessible to individuals with disabilities. BIAA helped provide suggestions for the guide, which was distributed to all House and Senate offices.
Looking ahead, President Bush will deliver his State of the Union Address on Monday, January 28. This will be followed by the release of the President’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 on Monday, February 4.
*Distributed by Laura Schiebelhut, BIAA Public Affairs Manager, on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America; 703-761-0750 ext. 637; lschiebelhut@biausa.org
The Policy Corner is made possible by the Adam Williams Initiative, Centre for Neuro Skills, and Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. The Brain Injury Association of America gratefully acknowledges their support for legislative action.
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Senate Passes Revised Defense Authorization Bill
On Tuesday, the Senate passed a slightly revised version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 4986), following House approval of the same bill last week. Important wounded warrior provisions related to TBI care remain unchanged in the new version, which President Bush is expected to sign into law shortly.
The revised bill contains new language altering a provision in the original bill which expanded the rights of victims to sue foreign governments designated by the State Department as state sponsors of terrorism.
The White House unexpectedly announced on December 28, 2007, that President Bush would not sign the original bill because it included a provision which could allow plaintiffs to freeze Iraq government assets in the United States while their claims against Iraq were being litigated (Iraq was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under Saddam Hussein’s regime).
One of BIAA’s policy goals for 2008 will be to monitor the implementation of the important TBI provisions contained in this bill. (The December 14, 2007 edition of Policy Corner contains more detailed information on these TBI provisions. You can access this issue, as well as all other archived issues of Policy Corner, by visiting BIAA’s webpage at http://www.biausa.org/policycorner.htm).
Negotiations Ensue Over Economic Stimulus Package
Also this week, negotiations focused on putting together an economic stimulus package, resulting in a bipartisan agreement by the week’s end, although the Senate is expected to possibly bring up further amendments during its consideration of the package in coming weeks.
BIAA signed on to a coalition letter urging House and Senate leaders to temporarily raise Medicaid reimbursement to states in order to prevent states from being forced to make cutbacks in essential state services. Such essential Medicaid services include health care and long-term services and supports, which are often especially important to individuals with disabilities.
BIAA Helps Make Congressional Offices More Accessible
Earlier this week, Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) unveiled, “Guidelines for Assisting Those with Accessibility Needs,” a manual designed to make congressional offices more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Through the hard work of Robert Demichelis, BIAA helped provide suggestions for the guide, which was distributed to all House and Senate offices.
Hello Tim:
You may not remember me; however, you posted my comment to your blog relative to my wife, Cynthia's, book. As you may recall, Cynthia suffered a TBI as a result of malpractice back in 1990. Her book chronicles her malpractice trial, rehabilitation, return to graduate school at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and her ultimate spiritual awakening.
My purpose for writing to you at this time is to inquire whether there might be some way we can participate in your April 3-4 conference. My wife is an excellent public speaker, having testified on tort reform before congressional hearings, spoken before the American Nurses Association and having been interviewed numerous times on TV in Washington, DC. Cynthia is truly one of the real TBI survivors whose story would add greatly to a greater understanding by both plaintiff's and defendant's counsel as to what they are likely to face in a modern day mal-practice trial.
At a minimum, you should give very serious consideration to distributing Cynthia's book at the conference. We would be very willing to make them available far below retail. Please take a look at Cynthia's blurbs and a sample chapter when you have your first opportunity at http://www.newriverpublications.com/Searching_for_the_Open_door. Note, Cynthia's attorney was none other than Jack Olender of Washington, DC, referred to by the DC press as the King of Malpractice.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone should you want to discuss this further. I can be reached at (954) 495-9958. I do not think you will be disappointed by Cynthia or her book as she and it are pretty germane to your conference.
Very Truly:
Stephen R. Doroghazi, Esq.
Hello Tim:
You may not remember me; however, you posted my comment to your blog relative to my wife, Cynthia's, book. As you may recall, Cynthia suffered a TBI as a result of malpractice back in 1990. Her book chronicles her malpractice trial, rehabilitation, return to graduate school at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and her ultimate spiritual awakening.
My purpose for writing to you at this time is to inquire whether there might be some way we can participate in your April 3-4 conference. My wife is an excellent public speaker, having testified on tort reform before congressional hearings, spoken before the American Nurses Association and having been interviewed numerous times on TV in Washington, DC. Cynthia is truly one of the real TBI survivors whose story would add greatly to a greater understanding by both plaintiff's and defendant's counsel as to what they are likely to face in a modern day mal-practice trial.
At a minimum, you should give very serious consideration to distributing Cynthia's book at the conference. We would be very willing to make them available far below retail. Please take a look at Cynthia's blurbs and a sample chapter when you have your first opportunity at http://www.newriverpublications.com/Searching_for_the_Open_door. Note, Cynthia's attorney was none other than Jack Olender of Washington, DC, referred to by the DC press as the King of Malpractice.
Very Truly:
Stephen R. Doroghazi, Esq.