Honoring Clifton’s Dennis John Benigno; The Fight for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims Lives On
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) praised the U.S. Senate approval of the Dennis John Benigno Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program Reauthorization Act, legislation to renew the federal government’s public health programs related to TBIs, including the national TBI surveillance program which is being named in honor of former New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.
“Congressman Bill Pascrell spent decades fighting for Americans living with traumatic brain injuries and pushing our country to take this epidemic seriously,” said Congresswoman Pou. “But one major impetus for Bill taking on this fight was his close work with the Benigno family of Clifton who raised the profile of TBIs after a severe brain injury DJ suffered. Thank you to Senator Kim for advancing this legislation out of the Senate and making sure the bill honors both the legacies of Congressman Pascrell and Dennis John Benigno. We must get a TBI renewal across the finish line this year to continue the critical work to support survivors, expand research, and improve care for families across our country.”
In the Senate, this legislation was led by Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and passed unanimously. In July 2026, the House advanced a similar measure authored by Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) also naming the surveillance program for Congressman Pascrell.
“It was an honor to lead the Senate’s TBI reauthorization efforts to ensure these lifesaving programs continue as they have done since 1996, carrying forward Bill’s legacy of caring for those impacted by TBI’s in the process. I'm grateful my Senate colleagues came together in a bipartisan way to move this legislation forward, and hope to see it cross the finish line soon," said Senator Kim.
The namesake of the Senate-passed legislation stems from lifelong Clifton resident Dennis John “DJ” Benigno who passed away in January 2024. Benigno’s life was forever altered after being struck by a car at just fifteen, leaving him with a devastating brain injury that left him totally disabled.
“I am proud to see Dennis John’s legacy – bringing greater attention and resources to addressing the devastating consequences of traumatic brain injury – live on through this Senate-passed bill,” said DJ’s father, Dennis, who together with DJ’s mother, Rosalind, founded the Coalition for Brain Injury Research. “Our family knows firsthand how profoundly a traumatic brain injury can change a life and affect an entire family. It is our hope that continued federal focus and research on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) will lead to meaningful advances in treatment and recovery, while bringing hope and aid to the many survivors and families affected by the devastating consequences of these injuries. We are deeply grateful for the work of the late Congressman Bill Pascrell and Senator Andy Kim, and for the continued advocacy of Congresswoman Nellie Pou.”
The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, established in 2001, was created by Congressman Pascrell to confront TBI and the impact it has on the inflicted, their families, and their loved ones. Millions of veterans, accident victims, athletes and others have benefitted from the policies the task force has helped advance over the years.
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