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.

• Continuing Resolution Funds Federal Government through January 19. As described in last week's Analysis and Commentary, Congress cannot just pass appropriations bills at this point. A number of budgetary issues (e.g., raising the budget caps) and program issues (e.g., reauthorization of CHIP and community health center funding) will need to be decided -- even if one bill ultimately takes care of it all. This proved too much of a lift for Congress just before its holiday recess and House and Senate both passed a CR that extended government funding through January 19. Money was also allocated for child and community health programs until March 31, 2018, although part of this will be offset by reductions in the public health emergency fund. Importantly, the CR extends the current mid-January deadlines for determining whether a sequester (across-the-board cut) will be required in FY 18. The bill also waives automatic cuts to Medicare and other programs that would have been a consequence of the recently adopted tax reform bill.​

There are several reasons why CRs are not a good way to fund FDA and this topic is considered in this week’s Analysis and Commentary.

• Commissioner Gottlieb to Address Alliance on January 31. The Alliance for a Stronger FDA is pleased to announce that Commissioner Gottlieb will address the Alliance membership in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, January 31 at 4 p.m. We hope that you are able to join us for what will be an outstanding opportunity to gain more insight into FDA’s priorities. More details will be announced in January. If you will be attending, please RSVP by e-mail to Carrie Morgan.

• Symposium on Transparency at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A group led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has produced a report that recommends ways to increase transparency at FDA. A half-day symposium will be held on the topic on January 16; to register go here. Commissioner Gottlieb is scheduled to open the meeting and deliver the keynote address.

• Friday Update Goes on Holiday. We will not be publishing on December 29. Our next edition will be on Friday, January 5. We wish everyone a happy holiday and a healthy new year.