FY12 House Appropriations, House Agricultural Appropriations, Congressional Meetings, and Debt Ceiling Watch

Advocacy at a Glance offers you the bullet point summary of current advocacy issues and the goal of a stronger FDA.

• FY 2012 House Appropriations Mark Ups and Spending Limits Announced.   The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up is scheduled for May 24 and the full House Appropriations Committee mark-up for May 31.  The House Agriculture Appropriations 302(b) sub-allocation is $2.672 billion below the FY 2011 base. To view Chairman Rogers press release regarding the FY 2012 Appropriations schedule and spending limits please click here.

• FY 2012 House Agriculture Appropriations Programmatic Subcommittee  Requests  Were Due on Friday, May 13. To view instructions for submission of recommended  programmatic language to the subcommittee please click here.

• Congressional Meetings.  The Alliance continued to hold meetings this week with staff of members of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees. In the coming weeks the Alliance will continue to hold meetings with congressional offices, with emphasis on House appropriators and leadership.

• Debt Ceiling Watch.  Last week Treasury Secretary Geithner indicated that the new deadline to increase the debt ceiling has been moved from approximately July 8 to approximately August 2. The issue remains front and center in the budget debate and how and when legislators address the issue will serve as a key proxy for how they will approach budget reduction negotiations for discretionary spending.