Bill
HR 1493
Expands federal TBI data collection, definitions, and grants; requires public reporting and long-term research on high-risk groups, aiming to improve prevention and services.
Title listed: “National Council Licensure Examination” (note: the text provided amends Public Health Service Act provisions related to traumatic brain injury (TBI); the bill text appears to address TBI policy rather than licensure examinations)
Status: Introduced in the House (02/21/2025); referred to Energy & Commerce and subcommittees; died in the Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee (06/16/2025).
Sponsors: Frank Pallone (primary), cosponsors Christopher Deluzio, John Rutherford, Dan Crenshaw, Robert Menendez, Don Bacon. Related/companion bills: H.R. 1768 (companion), S. 891 (companion).
Purpose
- To expand federal data collection, reporting, definitions, grant rules, and research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) — with emphasis on prevalence, high‑risk populations, long‑term/chronic effects, prevention strategies, and gaps in services and research.
Key provisions and changes
- Amendments to Public Health Service Act sections (sections recited include 393B, 393C, 394A, 1252, 1253(l)):
- Data/reporting and terminology
- Require insertion of “prevalence” alongside “incidence,” and add language on “reduction of associated injuries and fatalities” and “related risk factors.”
- Move statutory target year references from 2020 to 2030 for certain activities.
- CDC public information
- Direct the Secretary (via CDC Director) to make aggregated TBI and concussion information publicly available on the CDC website, including data on populations that may be at higher risk and prevention strategies tailored to those populations.
- Definitions and scope
- Expand and clarify the statutory definition of “traumatic brain injury” to include acquired brain injuries (including anoxia due to trauma and brain damage from infection, toxicity, surgery, or vascular disorders not associated with aging) and to exclude congenital/degenerative disorders and birth trauma. Authorize the Secretary to revise the definition after consultation.
- Grants for State and Tribal programs (section 1252)
- Add “Tribal” after “State” and allow consideration of higher‑risk populations when designing outreach programs.
- Require States/American Indian consortia to maintain non‑Federal expenditures for grant activities at least at the level of the prior fiscal year.
- Permit the Secretary to waive up to 50% of matching requirements for a fiscal year if the match would prevent program execution.
- Update grant authorization years from 2020–2024 to 2026–2030.
- Reporting, study, and research requirements
- Within 2 years of enactment, HHS must report to congressional committees: an overview of populations at higher risk (e.g., domestic violence/sexual assault survivors, public safety officers), existing CDC surveys/activities and data gaps, outreach efforts, and challenges reaching high‑risk groups.
- HHS must conduct (directly or by contract) a study on incidence/prevalence of long‑term or chronic TBI symptoms, evidence base for chronic effects across the lifespan, correlations with other conditions (e.g., dementia, mental health), available services, and research gaps. A report of findings and recommendations is due to Congress within 2 years of enactment and must be made public if conducted directly by HHS.
Who is affected
- Federal agencies: HHS and CDC (expanded reporting and website duties); other agencies may be consulted.
- States and American Indian consortia: altered grant requirements, maintenance of effort, matching‑fund waiver authority.
- Populations of interest: survivors of domestic violence/sexual assault, public safety officers, occupationally or circumstantially higher‑risk groups, healthcare and community providers.
- Researchers and service providers: new study requirements and attention to long‑term TBI effects may influence research agendas and service planning.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Reports and study deliverables: both the HHS report on high‑risk populations and the study report on chronic TBI effects are due within 2 years after enactment.
- Authorization periods in several TBI grant and program provisions are extended/shifted to 2026–2030.
- Legislative status: bill was introduced and processed through multiple committee steps but ultimately died in the Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee on June 16, 2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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