Neurosurgery Urges House and Senate to Fund Military-Civilian Trauma Program

On May 11, the AANS and the CNS submitted a statement for the record to the U.S. House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (L-HHS-E) Subcommittee requesting $11.5 million in FY 2022 funding for the Military and Civilian Partnership for the Trauma Readiness Grant Program. Initially known as MISSION ZERO, this program was signed into law as a part of (H.R. 269/S. 1379), the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (P.L. 116-22) and authorizes funding to ensure trauma care readiness by integrating military trauma care providers into civilian trauma centers. The neurosurgical societies also submitted a similar statement to the U.S. Senate Appropriations L-HHS-E Subcommittee.

In addition, Reps. Kathy Castor (R-Fla.) and Michael Burgess, MD, (R-Texas) championed a congressional sign-on letter to House appropriators supporting funding for the MISSION ZERO program. Thirty-four members of Congress signed the letter.