I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2360 
To provide for systemic research, treatment, prevention, awareness, and dis-
semination of information with respect to sports-related and other concus-
sions. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 4, 2017 
Mrs. BEATTY (for herself, Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. 
KELLY of Illinois, Mr. EVANS, Mr. GRIFFITH, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. 
PAYNE, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. CARBAJAL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, 
Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. RICHMOND, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, 
Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. MOORE, Mr. SWALWELL 
of California, and Mr. CLAY) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for systemic research, treatment, prevention, 
awareness, and dissemination of information with respect 
to sports-related and other concussions. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Concussion Awareness 
and Education Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents of this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Findings; purposes. 
Sec. 4. Surveillance of sports-related concussions. 
Sec. 5. Research. 
Sec. 6. Dissemination of information. 
Sec. 7. Concussion Research Commission. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS; PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) There is currently no comprehensive system 
for acquiring accurate data on the incidence of 
sports- and recreation-related concussions across 
youth age groups and sports. 
(2) Overall, according to a report entitled 
‘‘Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving 
the Science, Changing the Culture’’, issued by the 
National Academies in 2013, each year in the 
United States, there are approximately 1.6 to 3.8 
million sports- and recreation-related traumatic 
brain injuries, including concussions and other head 
injuries. These figures are based on conservative es-
timates. 
(3) Between 2001 and 2009, the reported num-
ber of our youth ages 21 and under treated in an 
emergency department for concussion and other non- 
fatal sports and recreation-related traumatic brain 
injuries increased from 150,000 to 250,000. 
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(4) Over the same time period between 2001 
and 2009, the rate of emergency room visits for con-
cussive injuries increased by 57 percent. 
(5) Yet, according to the National Academies 
there currently is— 
(A) a lack of data to accurately estimate 
the incidence of sports-related concussions 
across a variety of sports and for youth across 
the pediatric age spectrum; and 
(B) no comprehensive system for acquiring 
accurate data on the incidence of sports- and 
recreation-related concussions across all youth 
age groups and sports. 
(6) Currently, there are significant information 
gaps in the proper protocol for diagnosis and treat-
ment of sports-related concussions and more re-
search desperately is needed. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to increase awareness and knowledge about 
concussions through development of, implementation 
of, and evaluation of the effectiveness of, large-scale 
collaborative efforts and research by entities includ-
ing, but not limited to, national sports associations, 
State high school associations, trainers’ associations, 
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appropriate Federal entities, and other stakeholders 
such as parents, coaches, and students; and 
(2) to change the culture (including social 
norms, attitudes, and behaviors) surrounding con-
cussions among elementary school youth and their 
parents, coaches, sports officials, educators, trainers, 
and health care professionals, taking into account 
demographic variations across population groups, 
where appropriate. 
SEC. 4. SURVEILLANCE OF SPORTS-RELATED CONCUS-
SIONS. 
Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting after section 317T of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
247b–22) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 317U. SURVEILLANCE OF SPORTS-RELATED CONCUS-
SIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, and taking into 
account other Federal data collection efforts, shall— 
‘‘(1) establish and oversee a national system to 
accurately determine the incidence of sports-related 
concussions among youth; and 
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‘‘(2) begin implementation of such system not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Concussion Awareness and Education Act of 2017. 
‘‘(b) DATA TO BE COLLECTED.—The data collected 
under subsection (a) shall, to the extent feasible, include 
each of the following: 
‘‘(1) The incidence of sports-related concussions 
in individuals 5 through 21 years of age. 
‘‘(2) Demographic information of the injured 
individuals, including age, sex, race, and ethnicity. 
‘‘(3) Pre-existing conditions of the injured indi-
viduals, such as attention deficit hyperactivity dis-
order and learning disabilities. 
‘‘(4) The concussion history of the injured indi-
viduals, such as the number and dates of prior con-
cussions. 
‘‘(5) The use of protective equipment and im-
pact monitoring devices. 
‘‘(6) The qualifications of personnel diagnosing 
the concussions. 
‘‘(7) The cause, nature, and extent of the con-
cussive injury, including— 
‘‘(A) the sport or activity involved; 
‘‘(B) the recreational or competitive level 
of the sport or activity involved; 
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‘‘(C) the event type involved, including 
whether it was practice or competition; 
‘‘(D) the impact location on the body; 
‘‘(E) the impact nature, such as contact 
with a playing surface, another player, or equip-
ment; and 
‘‘(F) signs and symptoms consistent with a 
concussion.’’. 
SEC. 5. RESEARCH. 
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 409K. RESEARCH ON CONCUSSIONS IN YOUTH. 
‘‘Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Concussion Awareness and Education 
Act of 2017, the Director of NIH shall conduct or sup-
port— 
‘‘(1) research designed to inform the creation of 
age-specific, evidence-based guidelines for the man-
agement of short- and long-term sequelae of concus-
sion in youth; 
‘‘(2) research on the effects of concussions and 
repetitive head impacts on quality of life and the ac-
tivities of daily living; 
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‘‘(3) research to identify predictors, and modi-
fiers of outcomes, of concussions in youth, including 
the influence of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, 
sex, and comorbidities; and 
‘‘(4) research on age- and sex-related bio-
mechanical determinants of injury risk for concus-
sion in youth, including how injury thresholds are 
modified by the number of and time interval between 
head impacts and concussions.’’. 
SEC. 6. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop and 
disseminate to the public information regarding concus-
sions. 
(b) ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—In 
carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may dissemi-
nate information through arrangements with nonprofit or-
ganizations, consumer groups, Federal, State, or local 
agencies, or the media. 
SEC. 7. CONCUSSION RESEARCH COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Con-
cussion Research Commission (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 
composed of the following nine members: 
(A) Five shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent. 
(B) One shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives. 
(C) One shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(D) One shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate. 
(E) One shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—To be eligible for ap-
pointment under paragraph (1), an individual 
shall— 
(A) have experience with research, treat-
ment, and prevention with respect to all types 
of concussive injuries; and 
(B) be a leading medical or scientific ex-
pert, or an otherwise authoritatively qualified 
expert, in one or more relevant fields. 
(3) TERMS.—Each member of the Commission 
shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. 
(4) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill 
a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the 
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term for which the member’s predecessor was ap-
pointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of 
that term. A member may serve after the expiration 
of that member’s term until a successor has taken 
office. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
(5) NO PAY.—The members of the Commission 
shall serve without pay. Members of the Commission 
who are full-time officers or employees of the United 
States or Members of Congress may not receive ad-
ditional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
their service on the Commission. 
(6) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the 
Commission shall receive travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(7) RESOURCES.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that appropriate personnel, funding, and other re-
sources are provided to the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities. 
(c) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at least 
4 times each year. 
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(d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request 
of the Commission, the head of any Federal department 
or agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 
personnel of that department or agency to the Commission 
to assist in carrying out this section. 
(e) STUDY.—The Commission shall— 
(1) study the programs and activities conducted 
pursuant to this Act; and 
(2) based on the results of such programs and 
activities, formulate systemic recommendations for 
furthering the purposes of this Act, as described in 
section 3(b). 
(f) REVIEW OF NATIONAL ACADEMIES REPORT.— 
The Commission shall review the report of the National 
Academies entitled ‘‘Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: 
Improving the Science, Changing the Culture’’ and rec-
ommend corrections or updates to such report, as the 
Commission determines appropriate. 
(g) REPORTING.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORTS.—Every 6 months, the 
Commission shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress an interim report on the Commis-
sion’s activities. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 36 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
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sion shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress, and make available to the public, a final 
report on the results of the Commission’s study 
under subsection (e) and review under subsection 
(f). 
(h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
upon the date of submission of the final report required 
by subsection (g)(2), unless the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services chooses to maintain the Commission be-
yond such date. 
Æ 
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