IAVA successfully lobbied the United States Senate to not only turn back a proposed funding cut but also secured a 50% increase in funding for a vital Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) treatment and research program.

Send a thank you message to the Senators who co-sponsored this additional funding

The Defense & Veteran Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), located at Walter Reed, was slated to have their budget cut in half, from $14 million to $7 million. This drastic cut would result in a dramatic decline in the level of care for soldiers afflicted with TBI at a time when the number of soldiers suffering from TBI is ever increasing. Working in close connection with other Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), IAVA launched a full scale grass roots campaign to convince the Senate that even the previous funding level of $14 million was inadequate and demanded that the Brain Injury Center's initial request of $19 million be met.

On the Senate's first day back from recess two amendments that would increase funding for the DVBIC were circulating, one by Senator Allen (R-VA) that would restore the funding to approximately last year's levels ($12 million) and the other by Senator Durbin (D-IL) which would have fully funded the DVBIC's request of $19 million. Senator Allen submitted his amendment first (S.Amdt. 4883), but when Senator Durbin attempted to submit his amendment, Senator Allen realized that his amendment was too low and literally crossed off the $12 million on his amendment and wrote $19 million. (For a more detailed account check out this entry on Daily KOS.)

The groundwork laid by IAVA and the other VSOs was critical for shaping the debate and forcing the Senate to do the right thing. IAVA is proud to announce that the Senate adopted the $19 million amendment by Unanimous Consent!

Sadly the fight is not over. Once the Senate passes their bill, a conference committee of both houses of Congress will negotiate what gets included in the final Department of Defense appropriations bill. This amendment was a major victory for veterans and therefore we need to continue to fight for this increase until it is signed by the President. Please call your local Congressman and ask that they fully fund the $19 million budget for the Defense & Veteran Brain Injury Center.