Last week, ABC participated in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Boston. As the foremost annual gathering of state lawmakers and staff from across the country, the Summit offers a unique opportunity to engage with policymakers from both sides of the aisle. NCSL is a nonpartisan organization that provides legislators with policy research, training, and technical assistance tailored to their needs.
ABC’s presence at the Summit allowed us to connect directly with legislators and staffers from a wide range of states. We shared insights about the vital role community blood centers play in maintaining a safe and reliable blood supply. Our booth attracted a steady stream of attendees, and we were thrilled to make meaningful connections that will help advance our mission. This engagement complements the ongoing work of our member centers through the ABC Council of States.
At the NCSL Summit, we laid important groundwork on the Council of States’ two priority initiatives:
1. Promoting state policies that support the adoption of prehospital blood use; and
2. Encouraging state resolutions to designate January as Blood Donor Month.
We are pleased to report strong enthusiasm from legislators on both fronts. But this is just the beginning—the next steps will require active collaboration between blood centers and their state lawmakers.
To support these efforts, we invite Council of States members to join our upcoming meetings:
- August 28 at 2:00 PM ET – A deep dive into strategies for advocating prehospital blood availability in your state.
- October 16 at 2:00 PM ET – Guidance on working with legislators to pass a resolution declaring January as Blood Donor Month.
Meeting invitations have already been sent to Council of States members. If you have not received yours or have any questions, please reach out to Diane Calmus at dcalmus@americasblood.org.
With the momentum from Boston still fresh, we’re already looking ahead to next year’s NCSL Legislative Summit in Chicago. The Council of States is energized and ready to keep pushing forward.