Advocacy at a Glance

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.

• (Not Much) Progress on FY 18 Appropriations. With a Continuing Resolution funding the government from October 1 to December 8, there is no immediate pressure on Congress to pass full year appropriations bills for FY 18. Progress is unlikely to occur until the House and Senate agree on an FY 18 Budget Resolution and decide what to do with the Budget Control Act’s spending limitations, which are far too low to cover proposed defense spending. No one wants to do an “at the deadline” spending deal, but it is uncertain how long it will take to get these other two issues resolved.

• Ever Wonder What FDA Was Like A Decade Ago?  In this week’s Analysis and Commentary, Alliance deputy executive director, Steven Grossman describes FDA’s low status in the FY 2004-2006 appropriations cycles and how the agency’s situation has improved dramatically over the past 10 years.

• HHS IG Critical of FDA Food Inspection Program. The HHS inspector general has issued a report concluding that FDA’s food inspection program does not systematically follow up after a finding of “significant inspection violation.” The IG found that:

  For almost half of the significant inspection violations, FDA did not conduct a follow up inspection within 1 year; for 17 percent of the significant inspection violations, FDA did not conduct a follow-up inspection of the facility at all.

  The IG recommended specific changes and FDA concurred.