(4/2/25) UPDATE: Markup has been postponed due to cancellation of scheduled House votes. Committee will meet next week (4/7-11).
House Energy and Commerce Chair Rep. Brett Guthrie [R-KY-2] introduced the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act yesterday, March 31, with language from the FASD Respect Act included. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to markup 26 bills Wednesday, April 9th, including the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act. You can watch live here starting at 10:00 am Eastern.
FASD Respect Act language is found under Title 1-Prevention, in section 104- Support for individuals and families impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. You can view the full bill text here. Look below for Section 104 covering FASD programming.
The language included in this bill was agreed upon by House and Senate leadership from both parties (sometimes referred to as a four corners agreement) in December 2024. Inclusion in the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act in the House would be a major step forward, continuing to build on momentum from the 118th Congress. Having been included in the Senate’s version of the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act during the 118th Congress, FASD Respect Act Language is well positioned to remain in the final version of the bill.
As we saw during the 118th Congress, inclusion in a larger bill like the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act does not guarantee passage, nor does it guarantee it will be brought to the floor for a vote. However, it does show that FASD is being included in more conversations and that your work spreading awareness and sharing your experiences is making a difference. Advocacy and education will be critical in ensuring that Congress understands the complexities of FASD and the necessity of acting on legislation that supports the disability community.
