SUDC Legislation & Policy Updates
The SUDC Foundation Advocates for the SUDC Community it Serves!
We are leading efforts to ensure comprehensive and standardized death investigations, advocates for fair treatment of and appropriate medical care for families, and thorough data collection to improve our understanding of SUDC!
U.S. Federal Efforts
The Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act (H.R. 669) was passed unanimously in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2014.
Scarlett’s Sunshine Act (H.R. 2271/S. 1130) strengthened efforts to better understand SUID and SUDC, facilitate data collection and analysis to improve prevention efforts, and support children and families.
The Safe Cribs Act, was introduced on April 20 as S. 1259, by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to ban crib bumpers and prevent infant death caused by suffocation or strangulation of these products inside cribs.
The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act sought to amend Title V of the Social Security Act to explicitly allow federal maternal and child health funds to support stillbirth prevention, research, and evidence-based programs aimed at reducing the approximately 21,000 stillbirths that occur annually in the U.S. The bill highlighted the urgent need for action due to persistent disparities, heightened maternal health risks, and the long-term emotional and psychological toll on families.
U.S. State Efforts
March is SUDC Awareness Month – Local & U.S. State Proclamations a nationwide campaign that is held every year by the SUDC Foundation to encourage every U.S. state to declare March as SUDC Awareness Month. These proclamations and letters of support call attention to the medical mystery called Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
SF No. 2047 Bill: Legislation strengthening MN’s newborn screening programs. This bill amended Minnesota’s newborn screening program to enhance transparency and parental choice by requiring informed consent for the storage and use of infants’ blood samples and test results beyond standard program operations. It clarifies how samples can be used, outlines parental rights to opt in or out, and sets stricter guidelines for consent, storage, destruction, and research-related use.
During March is SUDC Awareness Month, on SUDC Awareness Day on the Hill in MA, State Representative James Arciero, in partnership with the SUDC Foundation and Junie’s Place, led the charge to support Massachusetts families affected by child loss. Representative Arciero hosted SUDC Awareness Day and introduced Bill H.2064 An Act relative to bereavement leave for the loss of a child, a vital bill that would provide 10 days of bereavement leave—a brief yet essential window of time—for families grieving the loss of a child.
Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) Day. The SUDC Foundation President, Julia Burgess, and the Minnesota SUDC Community joined the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council and community partners for Rare Disease Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
The SUDC Foundation joins the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) in urging Congress to restore full funding for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants, which face a proposed 70% cut in FY26. These grants are essential to maintaining the quality and capacity of forensic investigations, including autopsies and post-mortem toxicology—both critical to understanding and preventing Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
The Bill H.2064, An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave for the Loss of a Child, was heard on the Massachusetts House floor on Tuesday, July 22, at 10 am EST.
Filed by State Representative James Arciero, in partnership with the SUDC Foundation and Junie’s Place, this bill would provide 10 days of protected bereavement leave within one year of a child’s death—a vital step toward supporting grieving families with compassion and dignity.
International Efforts
E-petition 1987 called on the Canadian government to create a 12-week bereavement leave for parents grieving the death of a child, following the unanimous 2018 passage of Motion 110 and testimony from impacted families. Despite widespread parliamentary support, petitioners expressed frustration over the lack of timely government action and urged compassionate reform before the 2019 federal election.
International Efforts
Legislative Day for Minnesota:
April 2, 2025 for SUDC Awareness Month
Legislative Day for Massachusetts:
March 3, 2025 for SUDC Awareness Month
State Representative James Arciero, in partnership with the SUDC Foundation and Junie’s Place, led the charge to support Massachusetts families affected by child loss. Representative Arciero hosted SUDC Awareness Day and introduced Bill H.2064, a vital bill that would provide 10 days of bereavement leave—a brief yet essential window of time—for families grieving the loss of a child.
The SUDC Foundation joins the National call
to save this Forensic Science Grant
June 10, 2025
The SUDC Foundation joins national forensic and medical examiner associations in urging Congress to restore full funding for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants, which face a proposed 70% cut in FY26. These grants are essential to maintaining the quality and capacity of forensic investigations, including autopsies and post-mortem toxicology—both critical to understanding and preventing Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
We’d like to encourage you to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives today to support the restoration of Coverdell funding to $50 million nationally.
Sign the petition here.
Massachusetts Bereavement Leave Bill H. 2064 will be Heard on the House floor on July 22, 2025
We’re honored to share that Bill H.2064, An Act Relative to Bereavement Leave for the Loss of a Child, will be heard on the Massachusetts House floor on Tuesday, July 22, 10 am, EST.
Filed by State Representative James Arciero, in partnership with the SUDC Foundation and Junie’s Place, this bill would provide 10 days of bereavement leave within one year of a child’s death—a vital step toward supporting grieving families with compassion and dignity.
📺 Watch the livestream here: https://malegislature.gov