Senators Hassan, Capito Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Concussion Awareness Day

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced a resolution recognizing today, Friday, September 18^th, as National Concussion Awareness Day. Senator Hassan has championed Concussion Awareness Day since her time as Governor of New Hampshire, following the advocacy of Granite Stater Brooke Schuessler.

“Recognizing the signs of a concussion early helps people get the treatment they need to prevent lasting neurological damage from these injuries. This resolution calls attention to National Concussion Awareness Day to help connect more Americans with resources to prevent, identify, and treat concussions,” said Senator Hassan. “Today I am especially grateful to Granite Stater Brooke Schuessler for her continued advocacy to raise awareness about concussions and help others understand the risks.”

“Concussions impact far too many people in West Virginia and across our country, and we must continue doing everything we can to prevent these injuries and ensure they are properly recognized and treated,” said Senator Capito. “Improving concussion prevention, raising awareness, and strengthening diagnosis and treatment are critical to keeping athletes, coaches, parents, and others safe and informed on the field and in the workplace. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this resolution and helping highlight the importance of continued efforts to prevent concussions, promote safety, and improve care for those affected.”

National Concussion Awareness Day was inspired by former Miss New Hampshire Brooke Schuessler, who experienced a life-altering concussion during her freshman year of high school. Her story inspired then-Governor Hassan to establish Concussion Awareness Day in New Hampshire in 2016. In recognition of Mrs. Schuessler’s advocacy, Senator Hassan honored her as Granite Stater of the Month in 2019.

“I started National Concussion Awareness Day because no two concussions look the same, and for too long that truth got lost in oversimplified messaging. My hope was simple: to open up honest conversations about brain injuries, so that people feel seen, informed, and empowered to seek the care they need. It is one of the greatest honors to see this day recognized, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has helped carry this mission forward,” said Brooke Schuessler.

Every year since 2019, Senator Hassan has introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to mark Concussion Awareness Day, commend organizations that raise awareness about concussions, and encourage further research and prevention efforts.

Read the text of the resolution here or below:

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—
   1. to raise awareness about the effects of concussions; and
   2. 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.

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