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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injuries are a dangerous reality for |
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many Texans, but there have been significant advances toward better |
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awareness, understanding, and support over the past several years; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately 144,000 Texans sustain traumatic |
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brain injuries annually, and about 5,700 of those are left |
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permanently disabled; an estimated 440,000 Texans are currently |
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living with a disability caused by traumatic brain injury, which |
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remains the leading cause of death and disability in persons under |
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45 and is especially common among children and teenagers; moreover, |
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the projected economic cost of these problems in Texas totals some |
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$6.8 billion per year; and |
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WHEREAS, In order to mitigate the societal impact of this |
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type of trauma, the 78th Texas Legislature established the Texas |
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Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council and charged it with |
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identifying individuals with TBIs, informing state leadership of |
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their needs, recommending policies to address those needs, |
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encouraging research into causes and prevention, and promoting |
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awareness; in the past several years, the TBIAC has accomplished |
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these core responsibilities by implementing a myriad of successful |
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programs across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The council, with members appointed by the executive |
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commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, has |
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partnered with various agencies to ensure that individuals with |
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TBIs have access to adequate and high quality care; created in 2007, |
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the Office of Acquired Brain Injury researched and provided several |
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options to fund waivers for affected patients; the OABI and TBIAC |
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have collaborated on the development of accredited online training |
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courses for public health professionals, caregivers, social |
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workers, survivors, law enforcement personnel, and family members |
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dealing with TBIs; the OABI and the council also teamed up with the |
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Texas Education Agency to create a resource on TBIs and successful |
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communication and teaching skills for educators; and |
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WHEREAS, A large number of United States service members |
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suffer from TBIs, especially those returning from the wars in Iraq |
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and Afghanistan, and the TBIAC has worked especially hard to help |
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these brave men and women manage their conditions; with the OABI and |
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the Department of Veterans Affairs, the council released an |
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instructional video in both English and Spanish that offers advice |
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for effective communication and reviews available resources for |
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veterans with TBIs; and |
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WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injuries affect Texans from all |
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backgrounds and of all ages, and it is fitting to take this |
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opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who have |
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sustained brain injuries and to pay tribute to the many caregivers |
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and professionals who support them; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 2013 as Brain Injury Awareness |
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Month and honor the work of the Texas Traumatic Brain Injury |
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Advisory Council; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the TBIAC as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |