H.R. 1493 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
To reauthorize and make improvements to Federal programs relating to the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries, and for other purposes.
Cosponsors: 6 (3 D, 3 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-14
Introduced: 2025-02-21
Latest action (2026-07-21): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What H.R. 1493 does, in plain terms
This bill reauthorizes from FY2026-FY2030 and expands Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs relating to traumatic brain injuries. It also requires HHS to conduct a study and report to Congress on traumatic brain injuries. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to states for traumatic brain injury surveillance and registries (renaming the program after the late Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr.), CDC research and public awareness activities to reduce traumatic brain injuries, Administration for Community Living (ACL) grants to states and American Indian consortiums for services and support for individuals living with traumatic brain injuries, and ACL grants for protection and advocacy agencies supporting individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Also, the bill generally expands the scope and requirements of these programs, including by requiring the CDC to publish information on populations at higher risk for traumatic brain injuries and strategies for preventing such injuries in these populations. Additionally, HHS must conduct a study on long-term symptoms or conditions in people who experience traumatic brain injuries and report the findings to Congress. HHS must also submit a report to Congress on populations with a higher risk of traumatic brain injuries and outreach efforts for such populations.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Not graded yet
H.R. 1493 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.75
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The bill is constitutional under Congress's enumerated powers, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1), which authorizes federal spending for the general welfare, including national health concerns like traumatic brain injury prevention and treatment. The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) and Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) further support federal action, as traumatic brain injuries affect interstate commerce and the bill's provisions are appropriate means to achieve legitimate ends. The grant-in-aid structure is a well-established use of federal spending power and does not violate state sovereignty, as it conditions funds on voluntary compliance with federal objectives, not coercion. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers to the states, but here the federal government is acting within its delegated authority for a national public health issue.
This bill is constitutional under the enumerated powers of Congress. The General Welfare Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) authorizes the federal government to tax and spend for the general welfare, and the prevention, detection, and treatment of traumatic brain injuries is a matter of national health and welfare that falls within this scope. The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) further supports federal action to address health conditions that affect interstate commerce, as traumatic brain injuries impose substantial economic burdens across state lines. Additionally, the …
This bill exceeds the limited powers delegated to the federal government by the Constitution. Health and medical matters are not among the enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8, and the General Welfare Clause does not grant a general police power to address local concerns such as traumatic brain injury prevention. The Tenth Amendment explicitly reserves all powers not delegated to the United States to the States or the people. The necessary and proper clause cannot be used to stretch the spending power into areas properly belonging to the States. Therefore, this legislation is unconstituti…
This bill reauthorizes and expands federal grants and programs for traumatic brain injury prevention, detection, and treatment. It falls within Congress's power to tax and spend for the general welfare under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. The grants to states and Indian consortiums are voluntary and conditioned on compliance with federal objectives, which is a legitimate exercise of the spending power. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states powers not delegated, but here the federal government does not command state action; it merely offers funds for cooperative programs. The study and re…
This bill is a valid exercise of Congress's power under the General Welfare Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to provide for the general welfare and to make all laws necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers. The regulation of traumatic brain injuries, a matter of public health and safety, falls within the sphere of federal authority, as it concerns the general welfare of the nation. The bill's provisions for grants, research, and reporting are appropriate means to achieve this legitimate end, consistent with the principle…
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What should pass
“VFA SI Solution”
Traumatic Brain Injury Evidence and Services Reauthorization
Generated by VFA SI Solutions
Help prevent traumatic brain injuries, track how often they happen, and improve treatment and daily-living support for people living with them.
Bipartisan rationale: The proposal keeps targeted injury prevention, disability services, and state and tribal administration while stating the authorization amounts plainly, protecting sensitive registry data, and asking for measurable results. Lawmakers can evaluate the same funding and outcome evidence without assuming party support or a predicted vote.
Possible legislative path: The House passed the bill and the Senate referred it to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. That committee is the current legislative next step; future floor support is unknown.
Source limits: Current law outside the checked bill text determines the underlying nonfederal matching percentage, existing grant remedies, privacy duties, and program implementation. The precise cost and actual future appropriations are unknown; legislative status must be rechecked before any statement that the bill became law.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 Amendment X
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