Congress, FY12 Appropriations, and The Debt Ceiling

Advocacy at a Glance offers you the bullet point summary of current factors affecting advocacy for a stronger FDA.

• Congress.  Members of Congress continue to work at home the week beginning April 25, and will return to DC the week beginning May 2.

• FY12 Appropriations. The appropriations cycle will be front and center when Congress returns on May 2.  Hearings for FDA have already occurred.  We expect that appropriations staff will be busy writing the bill in May and that mark-ups could begin in late May or early June.  The goal, the Alliance has been told, is to be done with the appropriations process by August.

• The Debt Ceiling.  This is something to keep an eye on. As reported last week, the Treasury Secretary believes (and continues to affirm that) through “extraordinary measures” the government will not reach the debt ceiling limit until mid July.  Many expect Republicans in the House to demand spending limits, as part of any agreement to increase the debt ceiling.