How the FASD Respect Act is Moving Through Congress

Do you remember learning how a bill becomes a law? The process seemed simple:

1. Someone (citizen, legislator, group) has an idea.
2. The idea is written into a bill and introduced in the House or Senate
3. A committee will discuss and amend the bill.
4. The full chamber votes for it and passes it to the other chamber where it goes through the same process.
5. The President signs the bill into law.

What seems like a straightforward path to becoming a law is often complicated by competing interests and the current political environment. In fact, less than 10% of all bills that are introduced will actually pass, and most of the bills that do pass are either ceremonial or technical in nature.

One way legislators improve the odds of a bill being passed is by including it in a larger package of bills. Creating larger bill packages makes it easier for Congress to hear and vote on legislation. Package or omnibus bills also allow legislators with different political priorities to compromise by bundling together provisions they both want. While packages and omnibus might streamline this process, they can also decrease transparency and limit constituent input. These bills rely on negotiations and compromises, which can lead to legislators finalizing these large bills in private before being released to other voting members and the public.

How does this apply to the FASD Respect Act?

The FASD Respect Act has several legislative vehicles in the 119^th Congress. The standalone FASD Respect Act was introduced in the Senate as S.139 on January 16, 2025. Language from the FASD Respect Act was then included in three different bill packages in March:

• The Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act, introduced as HR.1768 on March 3
• The Bipartisan Health Care Act, S.891, which was introduced on March 6
• The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, which was introduced in the House as HR.2483 on March 31

The Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act, introduced by Rep. Pallone [D-NJ-6] is a true omnibus bill as it has a broad scope, covering the environment, general commerce, and health-related provisions. This bill contains the general legislative priorities of House Democrats and currently lacks bipartisan support. The Bipartisan Health Care Act, introduced by Sen. Wyden [D-OR] is a health package focused on reauthorizing expired programs. While this bill is bipartisan in nature, it does not have support from both sides of the aisle. Lastly, the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act is a package bill focused on substance use, mental health, and support and was introduced by Rep. Guthrie [R-KY-2]. The SUPPORT Reauthorization Act has broad bipartisan support and is seen as “must-pass” legislation by members on both sides of the aisle.

The FASD language in these three bills is identical, yet general consensus is that the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act has the greatest chance at becoming law. This highlights the importance of keeping FASD in policy conversations and making sure legislators understand that FASD is crosscutting; a response to FASD must be coordinated across agencies and will positively impact sectors like healthcare, education, and the workforce.