WASHINGTON— Representatives from Emily’s Hope traveled to the nation’s capital this week as part of the Emily’s Hope Youth Substance Prevention Coalition, attending CADCA’s National Leadership Forum.
Emily’s Hope Founder Angela Kennecke led the delegation, which included two South Dakota students, Mollie Kruse, a junior at Washington High School, and Remington Reilly, an eighth grader at West Central. They were joined by Emily’s Hope Board Member Brent Reilly, Remington’s father.
During their time in Washington, the group visited Capitol Hill and met with lawmakers, an invaluable experience for the students. They first met with staff from Sen. Mike Rounds’ (R-SD) office before heading to the U.S. Capitol, where they met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
Thune took time to speak with the group, as well as members of the ABC Coalition from Belle Fourche, South Dakota. He listened to their concerns regarding key public health and policy issues, including:
- Drug-Free Communities (DFC) funding: Last week’s freeze on federal spending raised concerns for Emily’s Hope and many other nonprofits, medical organizations, and educational systems nationwide. While DFC funding has since been restored, the coalition urged lawmakers to continue supporting the program, which enables Emily’s Hope to implement crucial youth substance use prevention initiatives in the Sioux Falls area. The organization must match every federal dollar granted for this effort, making continued funding essential to its sustainability.
- Access to public health data: The coalition expressed concerns about the recent freeze on critical information for organizations working to combat substance use and overdose deaths. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including overdose death rates and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, has been temporarily inaccessible. Additionally, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has restricted access to certain data, and both agencies canceled their planned presentations at the CADCA conference. Emily’s Hope emphasized the importance of ensuring that public health information remains available to organizations on the front lines of prevention efforts.
- Tariffs on China and naloxone kit supplies: The group also discussed how tariffs on China impact the supplies needed for assembling naloxone kits. While naloxone itself is not sourced from China, the kits Emily’s Hope distributes across South Dakota rely on essential components affected by these trade policies. Any disruption in supply could hinder efforts to provide life-saving naloxone to those who need it most.
After meeting with Sen. Thune, the group met with Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), who personally led them on a tour of the U.S. Capitol. The students had a rare opportunity to step onto the House Floor with Johnson as he cast his vote on a procedural measure advancing the HALT Fentanyl Act. The bill, which would permanently classify fentanyl analogs as Schedule I substances, aims to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat fentanyl trafficking.
The experience of witnessing legislative action firsthand was particularly meaningful for the youth members of the coalition, as Emily’s Hope continues its mission to prevent substance use and fight the fentanyl epidemic.
