The collaborative effort between individuals with brain injury, the Brain Injury Association of PA, the Acquired Brain Injury Network of PA, the Disability Rights Network and the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities continues to make progress towards their goal of establishing a caucus in both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate.  We now have two members of the House and two from the Senate who have agreed to co-chair their respective caucuses.

Questions for Candidates
As we enter a period during which candidates for office are actively campaigning, it is important to learn about the candidates' position on issues relevant to the needs of individuals with brain injury and their families. The Brain Injury Caucus Committe developed a list of questions that individuals can pose to canditates for office in their local area.  You can download a copy of this document here :  Questions for Candidates

Caucuses
The following members of the PA General Assembly have expressed an interest in serving on the Brain Injury Caucus in their respective chamber.

Senate
Baker, Lisa  lbaker@pasen.gov
Dinniman, Andy (co-chair) Andy@pasenate.com
Greenleaf, Stewart (co-chair) sgreenleaf@pasen.gov
Logan, eanlogan@pasenate.com
Orie, Jane  jorie@pasen.gov
Pileggi. Dominic paleggi@pasen.gov
Pippy, John  gmahon@pasen.gov
Vogel, Elder, Jr.  evogel@pasen.gov
Yaw, Gene jpippi@pasen.gov

House of Representatives 
Barbin, Bryan bbarbin@pahouse.net
Bradford, Matthew mbradfor@pahouse.net
Beyer, Karen D Kbeyer@pahousegop.com
Briggs, Tim tbriggs@pahouse.net
Conklin, H. Scott sconklin@pahouse.net
Ellis, Brian bellis@pahousegop.com
Fleck, Mike mfleck@pahousegop.com
Geist, Richard A Rgeist@pahousegop.com
Gillespie, Keith Kgillesp@pahousegop.com
Godshall, Robert rgodshal@pahousegop.com
Grove, Seth M. sgrove@pahousegop.com
Harhart, Julie jharhart@pahousegop.com
Houghton, Tom THoughto@pahouse.net
Killion, Thomas H. Tkillion@pahousegop.com
Kortz, William (co-chair) bkortz@pahouse.net 
Levdansky, David K Dlevdans@pahouse.net
Longietti, Mark mlongietti@pahouse.net
Maher, John Jmaher@pahousegop.com
Mahoney, Tim Tmahoney@pahouse.net
Markosek, Joseph F jmarkose@pahouse.net
Mundy, Phyllis Pmundy@pahouse.net
Murt, Thomas P tmurt@pahousegop.com
O'Brien, Dennis M Dobrien@pahousegop.com
O'Neill, Bernie Boneill@pahousegop.com
Picket, Tina tpickett@pahousegop.com
Reichley, Douglas G Dreichle@pahousegop.com
Rock, Todd trock@pahousegop.com
Schroder, Curt Cschrode@pahousegop.com
Stevenson, Richard R.  (co-chair)rstevenns@pahousegop.com 
Stern, Jerry jstern@pahousegop.com
Vereb, Mike mvereb@pahousegop.com

Legislation
There have been bills introduced into both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate to minimize the damage caused by a concussion suffered by a student athlete.  These bills also call for educating students, parents and coaches about the risk and dangers of brain injury in sports.  The House Bill is House Bill 2060 and was introduced by Representative Tim Briggs in October of 2009.  It is presently in Committee on Education on October 29, 2009.
The Senate Bill is Senate Bill 1241 and was introduced by Senator Patrick M. Browne.  It was referred to the Education Committee on January 20, 2010

How you can help:  Contact your legislators
The committee encourages you to contact your legislators on this topic, either to thank them for expressing and interest in serving or to ask them to join the effort.  You can find out who your legislators and how to contact then at  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ 

Recent Events

Hearing in the House of Representatives - March 16, 2010
The Pennsylvania House Caucus had a successful first meeting on March 16, 2010.  About 1/3 of the members were able to attend.  It was a very busy committee day so that some could not attend, and others had to leave early but all in all it was a successful meeting.  Representatives William Kortz and Richard Stevenson arranged for the meeting.  Representatives from each of the participating organizations (BIAPA, ABINof PA, DRN and PARF) each offered testamony.  In addition we offered both print and electronic copies of our information available to all who attended.  Three new members joined the caucus bringing the total number to 30.  We added yet another member at our Legislative Day.

Legislative Day in Harrisburg -
A Legislative Day was held in Harrisburg on April 20, 2010.  Called the "Rally in the Rotunda" it was a very successful event.  There were somewhere in the neighborhood of 120-150 persons in attendance.  Speakers at the event included the co-chairs of the Senate Brain Injury Caucus Senator Stewart Greenleaf and Senator Andy Dinniman.  In addition from the House of Representatives Todd Stevenson, William Kortz, Tim Briggs and Bryan Barbin offered excellent comments.  Representatives Stevenson and Kortz are the Co-Chairs of the House Caucus.  Representative Briggs has introduced legislation relating to concussion in youth sports into the House of Representatives.  Pictures taken at the event are available on our facebook page and will soon be added to our website.