As we welcome the New Year, it is appropriate to reflect on personal and communal successes that moved the field forward, increasing FASD awareness and support. The video below briefly summarizes the 118th Congress, and this post reaffirms our dedication to enacting FASD-informed policies. If you are one of the many advocates who volunteered time to attend five or more meetings with legislators, weekly policy drop-ins, or monthly policy forums, then you will receive a personalized Policy Impact Report later this week.
Video Script
Welcome to Your 2024 Personal Policy Impact Report.
The FASD Respect Act made tremendous progress this year
Your advocacy has brought us closer to a comprehensive federal response to FASD, which we will continue to fight for next year.
Let’s start by looking at what happened during the 118th Congress
June 1, 2023: S.1800, the FASD Respect Act introduced in Senate.
June 9, 2023: HR.3946, the FASD Respect Act introduced in House.
July 12, 2023: FASD Respect Act gains first cosponsors in House and Senate.
September 20, 2023: Congressional FASD Research Briefing as part of FASD Awareness Month.
January-August 2024: Months of meetings between advocates and legislators, as well as FASD United and bill authors.
September 17, 2024: Over 100 advocates visit Washington, DC for FASD Impact Week. More than 50 meetings attended as part of Hill Day.
November 13, 2024: House authors Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Betty McCollum pen a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging them to hear and pass the FASD Respect Act.
December 3, 2024: Rep. Abigail Spanberger cosponsors in the House and Sen. Peters cosponsors in the Senate, bringing final tally of cosponsors to 59 in the House and 13 in the Senate.
December 17, 2024: FASD Respect Act language included in proposed Continuing Resolution bill. The 1,500+ page Continuing Resolution would fund the government for 3 months, as Congress was unable to reach an agreement on a full-year spending deal. The Continuing Resolution included several bills that Congress did not act on during the 118th session. FASD Respect Act was included because of advocacy efforts and the influence of bill authors.
December 19, 2024: Political pressure causes Speaker Mike Johnson to pull the Continuing Resolution before it goes to a vote.
December 20, 2024: Slim Continuing Resolution was introduced hours before the end of the 118th Congressional session. This version does not included the FASD Respect Act, and was cut down from 1,500 pages to roughly 150 pages. It passes Congress without FASD Respect Act provisions, avoiding a government shutdown.
January 3, 2025: Start of 119th Congress. While the bill will need to be reintroduced, your advocacy has created momentum. FASD United is already working with bill authors on a strategy to reintroduce.
Ways to Stay Involved
- Weekly Policy Drop-Ins: Join us every Wednesday (except for the last Wednesday of each month) for our “policy office hours”, where we talk about federal and state legislation, as well as other topics relevant to FASD advocacy. This is an open conversation with no set agenda. Our next drop-in is January 8.
- Monthly Policy Forums: The final Wednesday each month is dedicated to updates on federal FASD legislation, developmental disability news, and updates from state policy advocates. FASD United hosts and leads this forum, but there are opportunities for discussion and input. Our next forum is set for January 22.
- Find Your Community: Reach out to us if you want to get connected to advocates near you or around the country. This community is dedicated, with a willingness to bring people in that continues to impress.
- Get in Touch: Have any questions? Give us a call at 202-785-4585 or email at [email protected]
As FASD United prepares for the 119th Congress in 2025, it calls on all advocates and supporters to reflect on the progress made and their incredible impact on creating an FASD-informed society. Join us on January 29th for the first policy forum of the year, where we will review a timeline of the 119th Congress and detail our path forward for advancing FASD advocacy.
