Summer 2026 Sleep Advocacy: Webinar & Action Alert

On Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 12noon ET, Project Sleep will host a timely advocacy webinar on what’s happening in Washington, DC this summer and how we can effectively advocate for sleep research, awareness, and patient care in a dynamic political landscape. Topics covered will include sleep as a public health priority, daylight saving time v. standard time legislations, the Department of Justice’s disability memo threatening community living rights.

Presenters:

Take Action for Sleep This Summer!

Congress is currently working on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Appropriations Process, and we are asking them to support language and funding for sleep health and sleep disorders public health activities at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The sleep community’s House appropriations sign-on letter was successful, and our language calling for a sleep health program was included in the House Labor, Health and Human Services (L-HHS) bill. 

However, we still need the Senate to include our funding request in their L-HHS bill. We need you to reach out to your Senators asking them to support our FY27 funding request to establish a much-needed public health program dedicated specifically to sleep health and sleep disorders education and awareness.

Raise Your Voice

Senators respond to the concerns of their constituents (you), which is why we need your outreach to them on this critical issue. The more sleep advocates who reach out makes it more likely our requests will be included in the FY27 spending bills. The deadline for contacting your Senators is September 14, 2026. Thus, taking action TODAY is imperative.

Instructions to Take Action:

1. To reach the appropriate staff member who handles healthcare (the Health LA) in your two Senators’ offices, first contact our sleep community advocacy staff, Emily Reed, reed@hmcw.org and cc: Julie Flygare at julie@project-sleep.com (Email Subject: Health LA and provide your state so she can identify your two Senators’ Health LA).
2. E-mail your two Senators’ Health LA using the draft message below. 
3. Be persistent and follow up every few days (Pro Tip: set reminders in your calendar to follow up).

*DRAFT EMAIL TO HEALTH LA*

To: [Your Senators’ Health LA’s Email]
Cc: julie@project-sleep.com and fein@hmcw.org
Subject: FY27 Sleep Health Appropriations Funding Request

Dear [Staff Member’s Name],

My name is [your name] and I am a constituent from [hometown]. I am also an advocate for the sleep community. I hope your office will be supportive of the sleep community’s appropriations recommendations for FY 2027, which would support the establishment of a sleep health program at the Department of Health and Human Services. Our requests can be found below:

Program Request
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Sleep Health and Sleep Disorders.—The Committee notes the connection between disordered sleep, healthy lifestyles, and serious chronic diseases, including pediatric chronic diseases. The Committee has provided $2 million for a sleep health and sleep disorders program to address the lack of public and professional information about sleep health and sleep disorders and to ensure that the time to diagnosis for many conditions is improved and the affected individuals can be linked to care and increasingly simple and effective treatment options.

Program Request
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Secretary

Sleep Health and Sleep Disorders.—The Committee notes the important role that healthy sleep, much like a healthy diet, plays in a healthy lifestyle and that there is tremendous opportunity to improve health and wellness through dedicated public health activities focused on addressing sleep health and sleep disorders. The Secretary is encouraged to fund new sleep health and sleep disorders public health activities, particularly activities focused on pediatric chronic disease, with at least $2 million in annual support for dedicated awareness and education efforts.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and for considering this request.

Sincerely,
[Your Name and address]

Questions?  Email Emily Reed at reed@hmcw.org and Julie Flygare at julie@project-sleep.com with any questions. Thank you for raising your voice for sleep research and awareness!

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