EHDI Advocacy and Impact

6/1/2026

Congressional advocacy often happens behind the scenes, but some of the most important conversations are taking place now as ACI Alliance continues meeting with Members of Congress and staff serving on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Committees. These offices play a critical role in determining federal funding priorities, including support for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program.

As conversations around federal spending, agency restructuring, and public policy priorities continue to evolve, targeted engagement with key congressional offices has never been more important. Our outreach focuses not only on appropriators directly responsible for shaping funding decisions, but also on longtime champions of hearing health who understand the life-changing impact of early identification and intervention for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

These meetings provide an opportunity to move beyond statistics and discuss the real-world impact of EHDI in communities across the country. We are sharing concerns about recent CDC funding reductions, proposed structural changes within HHS, and the potential downstream effects on state programs, follow-up systems, and family support services. At the same time, we are reinforcing the tremendous success of EHDI, including newborn screening rates approaching 98% nationwide, significantly earlier identification of hearing loss compared to the pre-EHDI era, and the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention during critical period of language development.

Equally important, these discussions help strengthen long-term relationships with offices that have historically supported hearing health initiatives. Advocacy is not a one-time conversation, it is an ongoing effort to educate, collaborate, and ensure hearing health remains visible amid competing national priorities.

We recently engaged our State Champions network across multiple states to submit letters to LHHS congressional offices emphasizing the importance of continued federal support for EHDI. This is also an opportunity for our State Champions to share their professional expertise, personal stories, patient experiences, and real-world examples that illustrate the critical role EHDI plays in ensuring timely access to hearing healthcare services for children and families in their communities. These firsthand perspectives help to reinforce and strengthen the advocacy ACI Alliance is doing on the Hill.

ACI Alliance is grateful to our State Champions, providers, families, and partners who continue helping elevate these conversations and bring local perspectives directly to Capitol Hill. Together, these collective voices help ensure that hearing health, and the children and families impacted by these programs, remain part of the national conversation.

EHDI Appropriations and Re-authorization: What you should know

5/24/2026

EHDI Funding and Advocacy: Key Updates and Strategic Next Steps

Recent discussions on the future of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program highlight important developments in federal funding, program structure, and advocacy strategy. This moment presents a critical opportunity to educate policymakers and reinforce the program’s value.

Budget Proposal and AHA Restructuring

The proposed changes to EHDI funding originate from the President’s budget request, not from Congress. The proposal would also shift EHDI from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to a newly envisioned Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), with the stated goal of consolidating programs and reducing redundancy. Historically, Congress has not fully adopted the presidential budget proposals.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed funding for the AHA in its FY 2026 budget, but Congress declined to approve it. This suggests that Congress may be unlikely to adopt such a large-scale restructuring in FY 2027. Changes of this magnitude would require significant funding shifts and could delay the appropriations process.

Even if the proposal is not enacted, it presents an important opportunity to educate congressional staff on EHDI—highlighting its proven impact, current funding structures, and the risks associated with restructuring.

Why Both EHDI Funding Streams Matter

EHDI’s success depends on two distinct and complementary funding streams:

• CDC ($6.8M): Supports state infrastructure, including data tracking, surveillance, and understanding outcomes on the ground.
• HRSA ($18.1M): Provides programmatic support, technical assistance, and direct engagement with providers and families.

Together these roles ensure timely identification, follow-up, and intervention for infants who are deaf and hard of hearing. Each program is administered by specialized teams with distinct expertise; both are essential to a fully functioning EHDI system.

Looking Ahead

As the policy landscape evolves, the core message remains unchanged: EHDI is a proven, essential program that relies on both stable funding and clear policies. This moment presents an opportunity to reinforce its impact, strengthen stakeholder understanding and ensure EHDI remains a national priority for children and families.

State Champs and Members: What You Can Do

• Educate appropriators now
• Stay engaged on reauthorization
• Tell the full EHDI Story (1-3-6 model)
• Engage your state EHDI program
• Protect legislative intent
• Share real-world impact

Advancing Early Hearing Detection and Intervention on Capitol Hill

As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, ACI Alliance recently met with key members of the Congress to highlight the importance of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program and to reinforce the need for continued funding and timely reauthorization.

We met with the offices of Representative Julia Letlow (R-LA) and Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to discuss how early identification and intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life, and why federal leadership is essential to sustaining this progress.

We also used these meetings as an opportunity to educate offices on the broader policy landscape and the importance of protecting programs like EHDI amid potential federal restructuring proposals.

Why EHDI Matters

The EHDI program is a cornerstone of early childhood public health. It ensures that newborns are screened for hearing loss, receive timely diagnostic follow-up, and are connected to early intervention services during the most critical periods of development.

Without strong federal support, gaps in screening, follow-up, and intervention can widen. EHDI helps states build and maintain the infrastructure needed to ensure no child falls through the cracks.

EHDI works because it creates a coordinated accountable system; one that supports families, providers, and states in delivering timely and effective care.

Support EHDI Funding and Reauthorization

As Congress considers future appropriations and reauthorization timelines, ACI Alliance emphasized the importance of maintaining strong, coordinated federal support for EHDI.

Tell your Members of Congress to support robust funding and reauthorization of EHDI. Sustaining the program ensures that children with hearing loss are identified early and have access to appropriate care and intervention, setting them up for success in school and beyond.

What You Can Do

Advocacy makes a difference.

• Contact your Members of Congress to support EHDI funding and reauthorization
• Advocate for policies that improve access to hearing care and reduce barriers to treatment
• Share your clinical and personal stories to highlight the impact of early detection and intervention

To support your outreach, ACI Alliance has developed a ready-to-use advocacy template that State Champions and members can use to communicate with their Members of Congress and state leaders. This resource will be shared soon—stay tuned for more details and guidance.

Together, we can continue to build a system where early detection, timely intervention, and access to hearing care are available to all.