Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement following the final Senate passage of the federal funding legislation covering the Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments. The legislation includes Senator Cortez Masto’s amendment with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on federal efforts to study the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries among victims of domestic violence.
“Since my time as Nevada’s Attorney General, I have fought to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive the support, treatment, and resources they need. In Las Vegas, one in three women have been affected by domestic violence. I am proud that my bipartisan amendment to research the link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injuries was passed. This legislation will help ensure that we have the data necessary to identify potential brain damage in survivors of abuse and help them heal and recover.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto’s amendment would require the GAO to report on federal efforts to study the impact of traumatic brain injuries among victims of domestic violence, as well as issue recommendations on how to improve public education and provide better treatment for survivors.
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