I want to draw your attention to this special news alert from a national partner of ours. As you know, HDAAC is primarily funded by a federal (CDC) grant called the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant. We are currently finishing up year 3 out of 5, with the plan to apply for years 5-10 (currently the only renewal available). The federal government is currently cutting many programs and grants, especially from the CDC. HDAAC cannot lobby due to being federally funded, but we can advocate and inform.
I would like to inform all of you that YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and email your congress-person today about your thoughts on the DFC grant. Below is more information, and I am copying the action link HERE!
| ISSUE BACKGROUND The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations process is underway. Many members of Congress are in the process of deciding upon their appropriations priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. CADCA’s top appropriations priority is to ensure that the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program is funded at the highest possible level, and at no less than the FY 2025 appropriated level of $109 million. We need as many members of Congress as possible to make fully funding the DFC program one of their top priorities in the FY 2026 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. In the House, Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1st) and Paul Tonko (D-NY-20th) are leading a letter in support of funding the DFC program at the highest possible level in FY 2026. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are leading a similar letter in the Senate. It is vital that these letters have strong bipartisan support in Congress. WHAT YOU CAN DO Contact your Congressional delegation and ask them to sign onto the letters in support of funding the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program at the highest possible level in FY 2026, and no less than the FY 2025 appropriated level of $109 million. HOW TO DO IT CADCA’s legislative alerts are sent to all of the members of your congressional delegation using your home address so that they are received from you as a regular constituent. Click HERE to send a message to your members of Congress asking them to sign on to the House or Senate letters in support of funding the DFC program at the highest possible level in FY 2026. SAMPLE MESSAGE I am writing to encourage you to sign on to the Fitzpatrick-Tonko and Grassley-Shaheen letters in support of funding the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) program at the highest possible level in FY 2026 and no less than the FY 2025 final appropriated amount of $109 million. DFC grantees have achieved major population level reductions in substance use across alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription drugs, and are an incredibly effective use of very limited federal funds. To sign on to the Fitzpatrick-Tonko letter in the House, please email Clare Dentner in Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office (Clare.Dentner@mail.house.gov) or Emily Silverberg in Rep. Tonko’s office (Emily.Silverberg@mail.house.gov). To sign on to the Senate DFC letter, please contact Michael Kans in Senator Shaheen’s office (Michael_Kans@shaheen.senate.gov) or Michael Perkins in Senator Grassley’s office (Michael_Perkins@judiciary-rep.senate.gov). |
| Visit cadca.org to learn more about our substance use prevention advocacy efforts! |