Legislative Advocacy
Advocacy Priorities for the 119th Congress
Our Policy Agenda 2025-2026 (119th Congress)
ELC nonprofit organizations stand united in this policy agenda-to both protect current epilepsy programs and funding and to advance new initiatives that improve the lives of people with epilepsy, their families, and the broader epilepsy community.
The nonprofit members of the ELC support the policies that will:
- Increase awareness and reduce stigma and discrimination;
- Fuel research and innovation leading to better treatments and ultimately, a cure;
- Improve surveillance, data collection and prevention activities; and
- Improve access to care.
In all areas, ELC supports policies that will reduce health disparities and promote health equity in the epilepsy community. ELC’s policy agenda is federally focused but recognizing that some programs have federal and state implications, ELC and its nonprofit members are able to engage in state issues in line with this policy agenda when they are related to and/or impacted by federal programs.
Ways To Get Involved
Here’s a list of our current legislative priorities.
Funding for Epilepsy Programs & Research
Protect and increase funding for epilepsy programs and research including but not limited to at the NIH, CDC, VA, DoD, and FDA.
National Plan for Epilepsy Act
By directing the federal government to develop a National Plan for Epilepsy, the bill will enable the federal coordination necessary to ensure better outcomes for people with epilepsy and prioritize the development of more effective epilepsy treatments.
Access to Care: Medicaid Changes
Medicaid changes will have an impact on the 40% of people with epilepsy who rely on Medicaid for access to healthcare.
Epilepsy Caucus Toolkit
Get Started with the Toolkit
Advocating for members of Congress to join the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus
A robust Congressional Epilepsy Caucus is key to achieving so many of our advocacy goals so we hope that all ELC members will take action to build the Caucus membership. This toolkit has everything you need to get started – an FAQ, tips and tricks for requesting and holding meetings with Congressional staff, sample emails and action alerts, etc.
Click here to get free access to the toolkit.
Share this Congressional Epilepsy Caucus Position Paper (as of October 2024) at the end of your visit or as a follow up.
Learn more about federal advocacy by viewing the Advocacy Webinar Series.
Advocacy Webinars
Access our library of webinars covering federal advocacy, policy updates, and best practices for engaging with lawmakers. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to deepen your expertise, these resources will help you make a greater impact.
Federal Advocacy 101
November 13, 2025
Take Action – How to Get Involved in Epilepsy Advocacy
November 13, 2025