Category Archives: Law

Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act Targets Brain Injury Prevention

Congressional lawmakers have introduced the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act to strengthen fighter safety protections. Representatives Brian Jack (GA) and Sharice Davids (KS) introduced this legislation in July 2025, building upon the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996.

The timing coincides with devastating losses in Tokyo, where Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, died from subdural hematomas after competing on the same card at Korakuen Hall on August 2. Both fighters collapsed following their matches and underwent emergency brain surgery but died days later. Japan’s Boxing Commission subsequently reduced championship fights from 12 to 10 rounds.

The new legislation enhances the original Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, enacted in 2000, which primarily addressed financial protections. This revival focuses heavily on medical safety, mandating comprehensive brain imaging including MRIs every three years and increased testing frequency after knockouts.

The lawmakers cite concerns about brain trauma in combat sports, with former MMA fighter Congresswoman Davids drawing from personal experience about ring dangers. The World Boxing Organization, a major international sanctioning body governing professional boxing globally, endorses these enhanced safety protocols to protect fighter welfare.

TBI & PTSD Treatment Gains Congressional Momentum

Congressional efforts to expand hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) access for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD are advancing through multiple legislative channels in 2025.

Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ) reintroduced H.R. 72, the TBI and PTSD Treatment Act, on January 3, 2025, alongside co-sponsors Representative Elijah Crane (AZ) and Representative Paul Gosar (AZ). The bill was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Health on February 6, 2025.

Additionally, Congressman Greg Murphy (NC) championed H.R. 1336, the Veterans National Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act, which successfully passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on May 6, 2025. This bipartisan legislation establishes a pilot program for HBOT treatment and garnered support from twelve co-sponsors across party lines.

Both bills target the veteran suicide epidemic, with over 17 veterans lost daily. HBOT accelerates brain healing by delivering elevated oxygen to damaged tissue, with studies showing significant PTSD symptom reduction within four weeks of treatment.

The legislation aims to remove VA bureaucratic barriers and provide veterans additional treatment options beyond traditional therapies, representing a critical step toward addressing the mental health crisis affecting America’s veterans.

Sit Down and Breathe

Holly’s Trauma May Prevent Others from Neurological Harm

Holly, a single mother of three, was brutally beaten unconscious while trying to intervene in a downtown Cincinnati street fight on July 26 at around 3 a.m. Violently slammed to the ground by the attackers, she was left with severe injuries including neurological damage, specifically a concussion and vision problems.

In subsequent media appearances, Holly described the assault as “attempted murder” rather than just an incident, criticizing police for their inadequate response. She also expressed frustration that despite suffering life-threatening injuries, as of the date of her viral response, she had not been contacted by Cincinnati officials, apologizing for the attack.

Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the brutal beating that was witnessed by approximately 100 bystanders, though only one person called 911 for help.

In response, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno introduced “Holly’s Act” – proposed legislation aimed at ending what he calls the justice system’s “revolving door” for repeat offenders. The act would raise minimum sentences and bail requirements for violent criminals, ensuring those with extensive criminal records cannot easily return to the streets.  Additionally, “[He] will convene the federal agencies that provide money to Cincinnati and ask them to suspend federal funding until [the city council and the mayor have] a plan in place.”

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno’s response “extremely disappointing,” stating that threats to suspend federal funding constitute “political theater” designed to harm residents. The mayor defended the city’s existing public safety initiatives, including drone programs and walking patrols, while acknowledging more work needed to be done downtown.

Holly supports the legislation, hoping her traumatic experience will be a catalyst to prevent similar attacks and improve police staffing statewide.

Texas First to Fund New Psychedelic Research

Texas has made history by becoming the first state to allocate significant public funding for psychedelic medicine research. Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2308 into law in June 2025, committing $50 million to FDA-approved clinical trials of ibogaine, a psychedelic compound derived from an African shrub.

The groundbreaking legislation represents the largest government investment in psychedelic research to date, positioning Texas as a global leader in this emerging field. The initiative aims to develop FDA-approved treatments for opioid addiction, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and PTSD—conditions that have devastated countless lives across America.

Rick Perry’s Pivotal Role

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has emerged as an unlikely but passionate advocate for ibogaine research. His involvement began through his relationship with Navy SEAL veterans Marcus and Morgan Luttrell, who found relief from combat-related trauma through ibogaine treatment in Mexico. After witnessing their remarkable recoveries, Perry dedicated himself to advancing this cause, even launching the nonprofit Americans for Ibogaine.

“I’ve spent most of my adult life in public service, and few things have moved me like what I’ve witnessed with this psychedelic drug,” Perry wrote in a recent op-ed, describing how ibogaine helped veterans overcome years of opioid dependence and psychological trauma.

Promising Results for Brain Injury

Recent Stanford Medicine research found that ibogaine, when combined with magnesium for heart protection, safely reduced PTSD symptoms by 88%, depression by 87%, and anxiety by 81% in combat veterans with traumatic brain injuries. The treatment appears to promote neuroplasticity, potentially helping the brain repair itself after injury.

While primarily focused on veterans, the research could benefit anyone suffering from brain trauma, including athletes with concussion-related injuries and accident victims. Texas’s historic investment may lead the way to finally bringing this promising treatment to American patients who have long traveled abroad seeking relief.

Texas SB 2308: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2308

MO Brings Oxygen into TBI Recovery

Missouri has demonstrated remarkable commitment to our veterans with the ratification of SB 664 on July 14, 2025.  The “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act,” was passed with overwhelming support of 33-0 in the Senate and 156-1 in the House. Governor Mike Kehoe signed this groundbreaking legislation on Monday, establishing a fund to reimburse HBOT facilities treating veterans with TBI or PTSD, recognizing the treatment’s potential to combat veteran suicide and opioid addiction. The initiative represents a projected investment exceeding $5 million annually, underscoring the state’s confidence in this therapeutic approach.

HBOT works by delivering 100% oxygen in pressurized chambers at 1.4-3 times normal atmospheric pressure, dramatically increasing oxygen delivery to damaged brain tissues. Advocates report that this treatment “stimulates brain wound healing and can reverse soft tissue and neurocognitive damage” without requiring invasive surgery or pharmaceutical interventions. Patients can “experience recovery of cognitive and neurological functioning” through this non-invasive approach.

Clinical research has yielded encouraging results across multiple studies. For moderate-to-severe TBI cases, several high-quality studies demonstrated statistically significant improvements in consciousness recovery compared to standard care alone. Research has consistently shown better Glasgow Outcome Scale scores and reduced mortality rates in HBOT treatment groups. A comprehensive 2016 review highlighted that “most successes occurred within hours after TBI,” emphasizing the importance of early intervention. Particularly compelling evidence comes from pediatric research, where a study of 56 children with severe TBI found that HBOT “significantly improved quality of life and reduced complications” compared to control groups. Additional research involving 56 patients showed “significant improvement in symptoms and increased brain activity” measurable through SPECT brain imaging.

The treatment maintains a generally acceptable safety profile, with most side effects being minor and temporary, including ear discomfort, headaches, and fatigue. Serious adverse events remain rare when HBOT is properly administered. This positive safety record, combined with growing clinical evidence and strong legislative support, has led some VA facilities to begin offering HBOT treatment to veterans, representing an important step toward broader acceptance of this promising therapeutic intervention.

Pandemic Accountability

About seven months ago, the U.S. government declared the COVID pandemic “over”.  As part of going forward, on May 9th, 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order titled, “Moving Beyond COVID-⁠19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers.”  Federal workers previously were required to get the COVID vaccine.  Currently, the vast majority of Americans walk in public without masks or fear.  However, the repercussions of government policies, actions and opinions about COVID-19 linger for some Americans.

Millions of people, in America and beyond, were initially eager to receive the vaccine shot, after their lives had been essentially halted for months due to the unforeseen COVID virus.  Before taking the jab, neither American citizens nor the government had information regarding its long-term effects. Soon after, though, we all became better educated on the topic.  “It was like playing Russian roulette,” said a father about the COVID-19 vaccine.  His previously healthy son died after receiving a dose of the Pfizer vaccine in April 2021.  In Louisiana, another such calamity occurred, this time with the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine.  The healthy 16-year-old woman who received the vaccine shot in April 2021 was left with a brain injury.  “Now, after three brain surgeries and thousands of hours of physical therapy, she struggles to walk, write, and care for herself,” says the lawsuit, filed in Louisiana, about the vaccine’s lifelong consequences for this woman. 

Last year, the federal government even acknowledged the connection between COVID vaccines and brain damage, noting that, “There is a greater than expected occurrence of severe neurological adverse events…following different kinds of COVID-19 vaccinations,” in the aptly titled 2022 report, Neurological Complications Following COVID-19 Vaccination.   Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and others considered to be Big Pharma cannot, under law, be sued for these outcomes and, ultimately, Big Pharma did not mandate the vaccine – that was the purview of the federal and state governments, as well as various individual organizations.  While negative outcomes from the COVID vaccine were rare, they occurred and someone should be held accountable.         

NOTE: Though I penned this article months ago, I never posted it on my site.  If more up-to-date information is available, related specifically to this topic, please comment below.

Call for More Studies, Not Solutions

At the start of 2019, Congress sought to showcase its “great concern” for brain injury, with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s (OH) introduction of H.R.280, the Concussion Awareness and Education Act of 2019.  Cosponsored by 36 others, the Bill seeks, “to provide for systemic research, treatment, awareness, and dissemination of information with respect to sports-related and other concussions.”  Specifically, it focuses on children, aged 5 to 21.  It is an admirable goal to care for America’s children, but just like similar bills that seem to go through Congress every year, it just calls for research.  Additionally, once introduced on January 8, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where it still sits without action.

Citizens have expressed their concern over what they see as a lack of concern for the youth, but stateside, similar government pseudo-action seems to be present.  For example, the Salt Lake Tribune wrote, “there’s a dirty little secret plaguing high school sports in Utah.”  According to the newspaper, that “dirty little secret” is the incidence of concussions in high school sports.  In Washington, S.R. 5238, which is currently being considered in State Congress, “would require UW Medicine to publish and maintain a website making… research available to parents,” – again, the government is proposing research, not action.  (Some states have taken legislative action, though, by eliminating certain sports and certain actions in sports.  A bill introduced to Congress in Maryland this month, for example, “would… prohibit cheerleaders age 12 and younger from engaging in aerial stunts.”)

As I have noted in the past, this heightened concern (and, perhaps, this seeming lack of federal action) may be the cause of the decreased sports enrollment in schools.  While that is unfortunate, a positive outcome of this current parental concern could be a heightened concern for sports safety from school districts.  Even without legal mandate, this could lead to a lower concussion percentage rate for the millions of American children who, theoretically, stay on the field and court.

A Broader Definition of Day Care

No one wants a life of twiddling their thumbs, with little to occupy their time.  For this reason, the concept of adult day programs was created.*  As the geriatric population becomes larger, the idea of providing appropriate funding to attend these adult day centers has become more popular.  This year, on January 8**, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) introduced the Adult Day Center Enhancement Act to broaden the idea of who may benefit and should receive funding for adult day center attendance.  The purpose of the Act is to provide funding for, “a program that provides comprehensive and effective services to individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions… that may result in a functional or degenerative disability and to their family caregivers and that may assist participants.”  (This bill funds daytime assistance to the young adults who are disabled, however I can find no information regarding the age limits.)

Related to its assistance to the participant, “adult day programs can offer services, including medical care, rehabilitation therapies, dignified assistance with the activities of daily living, nutrition therapy, health monitoring, social interaction, stimulating activities, and transportation.”  First introduced in 2013, and re-introduced every other year thereafter, H.R. 320 seeks to maintain the quality of life of the disabled population.  As with inflation, the allowed funding will increase every year until 2023.  (The Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act, to which I assume partially refers to veterans with brain injuries, was signed into law on March 27, 2018.)

On January 8, the Adult Day Center Enhancement Act was referred to the House Committee of Energy and Commerce, of which Rep. Lee is a member.  (Last time the Act was introduced, it was referred to the Subcommittee on Health.)  Due to the shutdown, this bill currently has no co-sponsors nor does it have a summary on congress.gov.  Now that the shutdown is over and before the bill may be enacted, it must be evaluated by the Assistant Secretary of Aging.

* On some sites, I have found it titled “adult day care”.  However, it is generally titled “adult day programs” assumedly because “daycare” has a youth connotation.  If one is to think about it though, that inaccurately marks toddlers as the only segment of the population that needs activity during the day.

** I find it heartening that a bill was introduced in Congress during the partial shutdown, which officially began December 22, 2018.

Update: Bipartisan Appeal for Reauthorization of TBI Act

On Friday, December 21, 2018, “H.R. 6615, which reauthorizes appropriations for programs and activities relating to the study, prevention, and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI),” was signed into law by President Trump.  Officially called the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, the bill previously passed the House with a 353-6 margin and passed the Senate unanimously.  (Reauthorizations were also given to other key health bills, H.R.1222, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2017, and H.R. 1318, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2018.)

Earlier this month, Congressman Pascrell spoke of the bill in House, “Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R.6615… I would like to thank Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone for their work to move this important legislation forward.”  Following being signed into law, Chairman Greg Walden (OR) said, “These bipartisan bills… represent a continuation of the hard work [the House Energy and Commerce Committee] has done this Congress to protect and improve the health of all Americans.  From reauthorizing programs so we can better treat and understand congenital heart defects to increasing our understanding of traumatic brain injury, to improving maternal health outcomes… these bipartisan bills will have a profound effect of the lives of children, families, and communities all across the country.”

 

Bipartisan Appeal for Reauthorization of TBI Act

The federal Traumatic Brain Injury Act provides many benefits to survivors.  For example, much of the research that I reference on this website is done by organizations funded through the Act.  When it was originally signed into law in 1996, the TBI Act defined its goals as to “identify methods of preventing traumatic brain injury; expand biomedical research efforts to prevent or minimize the severity of dysfunction as a result of such an injury; and to improve the delivery and quality of services through state demonstration projects.”  More than 20 years later, the basic goals of the bill remain the same.  However, every few years reauthorization is required, and new amendments are added.

This year, Congressman Bill Pascrell presented H.R. 6615 to the House for this reauthorization on July 26, 2018.  (Rep. Pascrell is the co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force.  The bill was co-sponsored by the other co-chair of the Task Force Rep. Thomas Rooney (FL), and by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes (DC), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) and Rep. Brian Higgins (NY).)  “I am proud to introduce this critical bipartisan, bicameral reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act,” Pascrell said.  In particular, the bill is seeking a $186,000 increase in the annual budget of the National Concussion Surveillance System.  (From $6,564,000 each fiscal year from 2015 through 2019 to $6,750,000 each fiscal year from 2019 through 2023, to perform aspects of data collection and evaluation.)  Established in 2016, NCSS seeks to, “determine the prevalence and incidence of concussion,” through such activities as household telephone surveys.  Additionally, the bill aims to increase the budget for state and federal research grants. 

This week H.R. 6615 passed the House and was sent to the Senate.  Termed S. 3657 in the Senate, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 is sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT).  (The fact that the main sponsor of the bill was Rep. Pascrell, a Democrat, in the House and Sen. Hatch, a Republican, in the Senate is further proof of its bipartisan appeal.)  As Hatch said, “We know TBI is a serious problem, but we fail to grasp its severity and scope. Our bill will change that… our legislation will extend important research, education, and advocacy efforts to help us better understand the nature of brain trauma and reduce the prevalence of these injuries going forward.”