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Congressman Cohen Gets $800,000 for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center

September 25, 2008


This funding will be used to develop a new trauma hemostat, a surgical tool used to manage blood loss. Smith & Nephew has developed trauma hemostat prototypes which are now ready for laboratory and field testing.

“This important surgical tool is critical for our troops and battlefield medics, and this program seeks to improve it,” said Congressman Cohen. “The prototypes were submitted to senior U.S. Armed Forces officers and medics at a medical conference last year and received very favorable reviews, so we are optimistic about the prospects for this new trauma hemostat. The medical expertise of the doctors and scientists at the University of Memphis and the Campbell Clinic will be essential for immediate research and development of the tool.”

The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act included an additional $2.4 million for other projects in the 9th District requested by Congressman Cohen, including: $1.6 million for the University of Memphis for a battlefield nursing training program, and $800,000 for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to be used to for a study into new drugs for battlefield treatment of hemorrhagic shock.

H.R. 2638 is a type of bill known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund at current levels the budgets of certain Cabinet departments and federal agencies until March 6, 2009. To ensure that federal programs and services continue, Congress routinely passes CRs to extend federal appropriations at the current year’s levels. In addition to continuing current programs, this CR also includes FY 2009 funding requests for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Military Construction/Veterans Administration.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265

Issues:Health Care