September 23, 2026
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mrs. Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
Supporting the designation of September 18, 2026, as National Concussion Awareness Day
.
Whereas mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, is an important health concern for children, teens, and adults;
Whereas, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—
(1)
there are as many as 1,600,000 to 3,800,000 sports-related concussions annually;
(2)
as many as 5,300,000 individuals live with the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury;
(3)
between 2001 and 2018, an estimated 3,800,000 children under age 17 visited an emergency department because of a traumatic brain injury sustained during sports- or recreation-related activities;
(4)
in 2024, there were an estimated 68,000 fatalities related to traumatic brain injuries;
(5)
each year an estimated 283,000 children seek care in emergency departments in the United States for a sports- or recreation-related traumatic brain injury, with traumatic brain injuries sustained in contact sports accounting for approximately 45 percent of those visits;
(6)
7 in 10 emergency department visits for sports- or recreation-related traumatic brain injury are for children ages 17 and younger;
(7)
research suggests that many children with a traumatic brain injury do not seek care in emergency departments or do not seek care at all, resulting in a significant underestimate of prevalence; and
(8)
approximately 15 percent of all high school students in the United States self-reported 1 or more sports- or recreation-related concussions within the preceding 12 months;
Whereas the seriousness of concussions should not be minimized in athletics, and return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols can help ensure recovery;
Whereas concussions can affect physical, mental, and social health, and a greater awareness and understanding of proper diagnosis and management of concussions is critical to improved outcomes; and
Whereas the Senate can raise awareness about concussions among the medical community and the public: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
That the Senate—
(1)
supports the designation of September 18, 2026, as National Concussion Awareness Day
;
(2)
recognizes that mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as a concussion, is an important health concern;
(3)
commends the organizations and individuals that raise awareness about mild traumatic brain injury;
(4)
encourages Federal, State, and local policymakers to work together—
(A)
to raise awareness about the effects of concussions; and
(B)
to improve the understanding of proper diagnosis and management of concussions; and
(5)
encourages further research and prevention efforts to ensure that fewer individuals experience the most adverse effects of mild traumatic brain injury.