Dusty Johnson: “today I join Senators Brown, Durbin, Landrieu, Murkowski and Murray in introducing the Advancing FASD Research…”

“today I join Senators Brown, Durbin, Landrieu, Murkowski and Murray in introducing the Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act. I thank them for joining me in this important effort to improve the surveillance, identification, and prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders, or FASD. During the course of my career, I have admired people who struggle with the affects of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and watched with deep respect as their families struggle to help them succeed. Through no fault of their own, these FASD-affected individuals face a lifetime of cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges, including severe learning disabilities, physical abnormalities, costly medical bills, and behavioral impairments. However, we have an opportunity to help people with an FASD overcome many of these challenges with appropriate health, education, judicial, and housing services. As with other disabilities, by investing a small amount of money, we can ensure that FASD-affected individuals have the resources they need to succeed in school, work and life. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are estimated to affect 1 in 100 live births, or more than 40,000 infants, each year. Researchers estimate that one percent of our population lives with an FASD, which is more than 3 million Americans. In my home State of South Dakota, approximately 7,819 individuals are suspected of having an FASD.”