EPILEPSY FOUNDATION

CIV · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties

-FAA reauthorization, support implementation of disability provisions -Surface Transportation Reauthorization, support inclusion of disability and accessibility provisions -Autonomous vehicle legislation, support the inclusion of disability and accessibility provisions -Family Friendly Transit RFI, expressing the needs of travelers with disabilities and how best to implement them

EDU · Education

-Department of Education, oppose Reductions of Force at and changes to (including moving sections of) the Dept. of Education that could impede the rights of students with disabilities -Department of Education, support increased funding -S. 3448/H.R. 6617, Keeping All Students Safe Act, support passage

Literal federal measure citations: S. 3448, H.R. 6617

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

-Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, support funding for epilepsy programs and research including $11.581 billion for the CDC including $11.5 million for the CDCs Epilepsy program and $164 million for the CDCs Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Program; language supporting a report about establishing a National Plan for Epilepsy; at least $51.3 billion for the NIH and $468 million for the BRAIN Initiative; increased funding for the Social Security Administration; and language supporting a report about how the newborn screening evidence-based review process will continue to be implemented and language clarifying that Title V can fund state-sponsored genetic screening pilot programs. -Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, support at least $29 million for the VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence. -Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, support robust funding for the Food & Drug Administration -Defense Appropriations Act, 2027, within the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, support $12 million for the Epilepsy Program, $12 million for the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex program and $175 million for the TBI and Psychological Health Program.

HCR · Health Issues

-S. 494/H.R. 1189, National Plan for Epilepsy Act, support passage -P.L. 119-21, support policies and processes that reduce the impact of the cuts and changes to Medicaid on people with serious and chronic conditions, people with disabilities, and caregivers; express concerns with the Medicaid work reporting requirements Interim Final Rule -P.L. 119-21, express concerns with the proposed rule implementing the provider tax provisions -Budget Reconciliation Packages, oppose additional cuts to Medicaid -No Surprises Act, ask Congress to address issues with the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process -S. 5428/H.R. 930, Stop the Wait Act, support passage -Requests to join the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus -S. 2903/H.R. 5509, Safe Step Act, support passage -S. 864/H.R. 6423, HELP Copays Act, support passage -WISeR Model, express concern with how it could impede access to some epilepsy treatments -PBM Reform, support legislative and regulatory policies on PBM reform and the inclusion of patient-centric policies -Medicare Part Ds Six Protected Classes policy, support coverage of and access to all epilepsy treatments and express concerns with the impact of the GUARD Model on the Six Protected Classes policy. -Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Proposed Rule, express concerns with changes to EHB -Telehealth, support extensions of telehealth flexibilities including the prescribing of epilepsy medications that are controlled substances -S. 1024/H.R. 2151, Seizure Awareness and Preparedness Act, support passage -U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), support protecting the current structure of HHS and express concerns with HHS staffing changes and cuts -NIH, support the current structure, current facilities and administrative cost structure, and grantmaking process of the NIH; express concerns with leadership and staffing changes and an expansion of multiyear funding -Support programs that assist caregivers -Oppose legislative or regulatory policies that rely on metrics like Quality-Adjusted Life Years -Support safe and legal access to medical cannabis, including supporting rescheduling and expressing concerns about the ban on intoxicating hemp -S. 1816/ H.R. 3514, Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, support passage -Express concerns with legislative and regulatory policies that would restrict the use of animals in research -Support legislation and policy preserving charitable giving -S. 3607/H.R. 6280, Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act, support passage -S. 4440/H.R. 3521, Clinical Trial Modernization Act, support passage -Support legislation and regulations that protect Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and increase access to these services -Federal Finance Assistance Proposed Rule, express concerns with impact on medical research and nonprofit missions -Healthy People 2030, support the inclusion of an epilepsy objective

Literal federal measure citations: S. 494, H.R. 1189, S. 5428, H.R. 930, S. 2903, H.R. 5509, S. 864, H.R. 6423, S. 1024, H.R. 2151, S. 1816, H.R. 3514, S. 3607, H.R. 6280, S. 4440, H.R. 3521