If you were not able to attend October’s Monthly Policy Forum, you can check out the recording and slides below. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions or if you need support in your state!
The theme of October’s Policy Forum was Look Back and Move Forward. We spent the hour recapping Hill Day 2026 and the lessons we learned, discussing what is currently happening in Congress, and detailing how we can all fight to Fund FASD so more supports and services make it into communities.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to watch a recording of the Policy Forum or view the slides.
Organization Updates
There is plenty to look forward to in 2027, including the 25th Anniversary of the FASD United Affiliate Network and the 20th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. We hope you will join us at the Conference’s new home in Albuquerque, New Mexico from March 12 to March 15. Call for abstracts is now open and the deadline is November 24. Registration will open in December!
Hill Day Lessons
National FASD Hill Day on September 29th brought together 110 advocates from 29 states for 90 meetings with congressional offices. Advocates told us more offices know about FASD than in the past, and the conversation has moved from “What is FASD?” to “What’s next?” We also heard that other parts of the SUPPORT Act are slow to be implemented, and that issues with active advocates are the ones that get attention.
FY28 Appropriations: Everyone Can Submit
Every Representative and every Senator can submit appropriations requests, not only members of the Appropriations Committee. That means you have three offices that can carry the FASD request. Our Fiscal Year 2028 (FY28) asks are:
- $21.5 million for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)FASD programs
- $1 million to continue the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) FASD set-aside
- $5 million in Defense appropriations for the Uniformed Services University FASD project
Request windows are expected around February or March 2027, but dates have not been announced. The process has three steps:
- Before: Contact offices for the appropriations staff contact, ask for the office’s internal deadline, and request a meeting to discuss the FY28 request.
- During: Submit, or support submission of, the request to the member, using FASD United’s request language and one-pager.
- After: Follow up to confirm the member submitted it to the committee, ask that FASD be ranked a high priority, and say thank you.
Your Next Step
Email your Representative and both Senators this week and ask for two things: a connection to the staff member who handles appropriations requests, and the request form or link when it opens. Not sure how to reach your legislator? Email [email protected] for help or look for the “Contact” section on your legislator’s website.
Forum Recording
Forum Slides
Other Links
Congressional Calendar:
https://rollcall.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026CQRCCongressionalCalendar032326.pdf
Find Your Rep: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
State advocacy hub:
https://fasdunitedusa.org/policylanding/templates-and-scripts#page-a
