National Biomedical Research Act Introduced

Advocacy at a Glance offers you the bullet point summary of current advocacy issues associated with the goals of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.

• Hold This Date: March 16 is Alliance Capitol Hill Advocacy Day. The Alliance is already deep into meetings with appropriators to help them understand FDA’s growing responsibilities and budgetary needs. Our annual Hill lobbying day is March 16 and we need your help to communicate with more than 50 offices in one day. If you can participate, either morning or afternoon or both, please e-mail Lynnette Bechtel.

• Commissioner Califf Testifies on FDA Budget in Senate. Dr. Califf made his first appearance before Congress as Commissioner, testifying before the Senate Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture and FDA. It was an impressive start. For more about his testimony and its relationship to our Hill Day activities, please read this week’s Analysis and Commentary.

• National Biomedical Research Act Introduced. The 10 Democratic members of the Senate HELP committee, led by Senators Murray and Warren, have introduced the National Biomedical Research Act. This bill would provide a new mandatory funding stream for NIH and FDA that would be "earmarked" for such initiatives as precision medicine and regulatory science.

• State Departments of Agriculture Seek Increased FDA Funding for FSMA. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has sent a letter to appropriators urging them to provide more Federal funding for the Food Safety Modernization Act. The requested monies would be used to implement FSMA as intended, including a critical alliance between federal and state regulators and inspectors.