I do so as a parent whose son died in child care after being given a food he was allergic to, despite the program being fully aware of his allergies and required special meal plan. Instead of being given his safe meal, he was fed a grilled cheese sandwich. That failure cost him his life, and it is why I have dedicated myself to ensuring no other family experiences a preventable loss like ours.

Too often, a child’s first severe allergic reaction is completely unknown to parents or educators. In those moments, undesignated stock epinephrine is the only line of defense, and it saves lives.

Training is simple, effective, and already proven. Existing Good Samaritan protections are in place to protect those who act in good faith to save a life. Bills like this are not about creating risk; they are about protecting the most vulnerable when every second matters.

Concerns related to liability and implementation can be addressed through clear guidance, proper training, and the legal protections already written into law. We have seen this work in practice.

New York and other states have successfully taken advantage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant to support training, access, and implementation of undesignated stock epinephrine in child care settings, helping to relieve the financial and operational burden on providers. Virginia can take advantage of this same federal funding to ease the cost burden on child care programs. Virginia’s Elijah’s Law, HB 1328, which strengthens food allergy protections in child care settings. New York City recently passed Ordinance Int 895 requiring all schools and child care programs to carry two epinephrine devices. These policies work, and they save lives.

I strongly support this bill and appreciate the leadership and commitment to keeping children safe.

With gratitude,
Elijah-Alavi Foundation