PASSED: Cortez Masto Legislation to Support Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Washington, D.C. – The Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-Nev.) Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 , bipartisan legislation to support traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Alongside Senator Cortez Masto, the legislation was led by Senators Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.). The legislative package, which now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration, contained two key provisions authored by Senator Cortez Masto: the Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Act and the Protecting Survivors from Traumatic Brain Injury Act. The Public Safety Officer Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Act would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect and make publicly available information on TBIs specifically for public safety officers and provide recommendations and protocols for identifying, diagnosing, and treating concussions. The Protecting Survivors from Traumatic Brain Injury Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services to report information to Congress about individuals who may be at higher risk for TBIs, such as domestic violence or sexual assault survivors. The legislation would help assess how prevalent these injuries are and inform service providers about the resources and support survivors need. “Every year, more than 2.5 million Americans get a traumatic brain injury,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “We have a responsibility to do everything we can to both prevent these injuries from happening and support patients through the recovery process. I am glad the Senate unanimously passed my legislative package, and I urge my House colleagues to immediately do the same.” Senator Cortez Masto has consistently fought to ensure all Nevadans can access high-quality, affordable health care. She has led other legislative efforts to study TBI prevalence among victims of domestic violence and required the Government Accountability Office to report on federal efforts to study TBIs. She has also championed efforts to lower drug costs for seniors, hold Big Pharma accountable, and expand Medicare drug price negotiation. She has championed legislation to strengthen Medicare-funded behavioral health services and telehealth services, as well as protect access to ambulance services in rural and underserved areas. ###