Appropriations Process: Pace is Uncertain When Congress Returns

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.

• Appropriations Process: Pace is Uncertain When Congress Returns. The top priority of House and Senate leadership is completion of the appropriations process. To attain this, Congress got started a bit earlier than normal this year and has produced House passage of one bill and Senate passage of three. The odds are still against completion of 12 appropriations bills -- a result of political and policy riders being offered onto individual bills and the short legislative calendar between now and September 30 (less than 40 days). The overall picture, however, should be clearer once Congress returns next week from recess.

• Ag/FDA Funding Bill Readied for House and Senate Floor Consideration. On May 19, just prior to the current Congressional recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed action on the Ag/FDA appropriations bill. The House Appropriations Committee completed its efforts on the bill a month earlier. Floor time has not yet been scheduled on either bill nor is it clear whether the bills might face controversial political or policy amendments.

• More Money Would Be Better, But Finishing the Ag/FDA Bill is Essential. The Alliance is still working on attaining higher levels of funding for FDA for FY 17, even while we must deal with the reality that the House committee (+$33 million) and Senate committee (+$39 million) levels may represent the best that is possible this year. Our position has not changed: more funding is needed for FDA to carry out its mission and responsibilities. Of this, we feel certain. There is still an additional threat that FDA might receive no increase at all over FY 16. This is explored in this week’s Analysis and Commentary.