WASHINGTON –  On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) voted for a bipartisan provision to increase investment in the Department of Defense’s medical research of traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychological health. 

The budget-neutral amendment, introduced by Congressman TJ Cox of California, passed the House 404 to 22. According to the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, there are an estimated 5.3 million Americans living with long-term disabilities as a result of brain injury and millions of more Americans suffer from residual effects of less severe TBIs. The National Center for PTSD reports that at least half of Americans have had a traumatic event in their lives, and of those people, about 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women will develop PTSD.

“There is no responsibility I take more seriously than protecting those who protect the United States, standing up for those who have risked their lives to do so, and for ensuring Americans have access to the care they need. This investment will give the Department of Defense more resources needed to boost medical research of traumatic brain injuries and PTSD – issues affecting so many veterans,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who also supported this legislation.”

This investment passed the House of Representatives this afternoon as a part of the House Appropriations Minibus bill for State and Foreign Operations and Defense.

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