FARE ADVOCACY EFFORTS SHINE AT COURAGE AT CONGRESS

May 18, 2023 (McLean, VA) – FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is highlighting advocacy during Food Allergy Awareness Week by celebrating its recent return to Washington, D.C. at its “Courage at Congress: Advocate for a Cure” legislative fly-in, March 26 –28. Over 125 meetings featuring 30 members of Congress were held where advocates discussed labeling medicine, increasing the amount of money spent on food allergy research at NIH, and making public school cafeterias safer.

Each year, FARE brings together advocates from all over the U.S. for the “Courage at Congress” event to raise the profile of food allergy issues among our nation’s leaders, advocating for policies to improve the lives of the more than 32 million Americans with life-threatening food allergies. Since March 2020, this event has been held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, however this year marked a return to an in-person event. Advocates participated in engaging panels and advocacy training sessions to prepare for meetings with policymakers and Congressional offices.

On Monday, March 27, advocates gathered and heard from Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), FDA’s Dr. Susan Mayne, NIAID’s Dr. Alkis Togias, and CFAAR’s Dr. Ruchi Gupta. The following day, FARE advocates and staff conducted more than 125 House and Senate meetings featuring 30+ different members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including members of the Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus and the House Appropriations Committee. To view pictures from these meetings, please click here. 

“We were thrilled to host so many of our food allergy advocates for ‘Courage at Congress’ this year,” says Sung Poblete, RN, PhD, CEO of FARE. “It means so much to be able to connect face-to-face as we lobby our members of Congress for increased federal research funding for new therapies and drugs. We are also advocating for the safety of our food allergic children in schools and inclusivity in drug labeling so that our community is safe when taking prescription drugs and OTC medicines.” 

Multiple panel discussions were held and focused on past successes, such as increased funding for food allergy research, and future legislative priorities. Priorities in 2023 include growing the Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus, enforcing the FASTER Act, advancing the ADINA Act and Labeling Medicine for the Top-Nine Allergens and Gluten, S. 121: “Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act,” and further increases to the federal funding of food allergy priorities. 

Advocates met with their members of Congress’ offices throughout the day on Tuesday, encouraging each office to join the Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus, which FARE helped form two years ago. 

“We’d like to thank all of the Congressional offices who met with and spoke to our advocates,” said Jason Linde, Senior Vice President of Advocacy, FARE. “This year’s ‘Courage at Congress’ truly showed the power of advocacy by our friends and family who are directly impacted by food allergies.” 

For more information about how to become an advocate, please visit here.