STDs compete with numerous other diseases and issues for support. In part, this is due to the fact that STDs other than HIV have a relatively weak and loosely organized grassroots constituency. Yet we also face numerous other internal and external challenges to building a successful movement to establish STD as a high priority for support from our state and federal legislatures. This session aims to describe recent trends in STD public health activities and services at the state and federal level in order to ground us in our current baseline level services and resources along with how that has changed over the years. A state-level response to advocate for increased and high quality STD services will be presented from the perspective of California's STD Controllers Association. Finally, we will hear from the executive director of the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors who will share insights and lessons learned from the frontlines of HIV advocacy along with perspectives about the challenges facing STD advocacy efforts.