william ditto. the recently retired director of the brain injury program in new jersey. mr. ditto, along with his colleagues, have made great strides in leveraging their limited funds to coordinate and provide services for individuals with traumatic brain injury. strengthening partnerships like these will improve outcome of the families and patients affected by traumatic brain injury. i look forward to today's testimony. mr. chairman, i would like to ask as i think you know my colleague from new jersey has been a leader on this whole issue and i know he's not a member of the committee, but he asked if i would by unanimous consent to include his statement for the record. >> no objection. >> i look forward to the testimony and appreciate the fact that you held this hearing today. thank you. >> chair manthanks the gentlema. mr. upton, five minutes for opening statement. >> thank you, mr. chairman. at least 1.7 million folks sustain a traumatic brain injury every year. we don't have to look very far to see the profound effects of a pa major tbi. with efforts being undertaken at

mr. william ditto, director of the new jersey tbi division, new jersey department of health.doctor flora winston, children's hospital, philadelphia, and doctor mark ashley, president centre for neuro skills. you are testimony will be made part of the record. lisa marries your statements in five minutes. doctor stricklin, please make your opening statement. >> german pits, make ranking member paloma, to give her the opportunity to testify today on the department of health and human services traumatic brain injury program. i am doctor bonnie strickland, director of the division of services for children with natural healthcare needs at the health and services administration at that department of health and human services. we appreciate your interest in our work and on this opportunity to discuss our tbi program with you and providing highlights of other hhs activities. congress helped implement this program to improve access to rehabilitation and other services. the cdc has responsibility for prevention and surveillance. there is also another group that provides services. the pr