Alliance Testifies to the House and Senate on FY 24 Appropriations
On April 10, the Alliance for a Stronger FDA provided testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies. Similar testimony was submitted to the Senate on March 31. Here are some highlights—which include a number of the messages we will be making directly to Congressional staff on Alliance Hill Days—April 25/26 and May 2/3.
The Alliance thanks the Subcommittee for its continuing support of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Alliance supports the Administration's request for $3.914 billion in BA funding for the FDA in FY 24, highlighting FDA’s uniquely difficult mission and broad range of responsibilities.
The FDA needs more resources each year due to its 1/ expanding mission and growing responsibilities, including with unfunded mandates, and 2/ the likelihood of unexpected public health and scientific needs/challenges every year. The Alliance emphasizes that FDA's mission and responsibilities are consequential and visible.
The Alliance believes that the American public is the primary beneficiary of FDA's activities, and therefore, it is critical that the public remains the largest source of FDA funding. The Alliance's request for FY 24 funding focuses exclusively on appropriations that come from monies paid by taxpayers (BA) and intentionally does not include user fees and mandated funding. However, the Alliance urges Congress to fully fund those programs, as well.
The Alliance supports the Administration's budget authority (BA) request of $3.914 billion for FY24, which provides for an increase of $366 million in BA salary and expenses (S&E) and an increase of $6 million in BA buildings and facilities (B&F). The Alliance also encourages FDA to increase transparency and accountability in its use of funding.
Furthermore, the Alliance supports strengthening the scientific capabilities of FDA, including the need for more scientific and technical staff, and better analytical tools, to support science-based decision-making and keep up with innovation in both food and medical products. The Alliance highlights 1/ the challenges posed by the growing complexity of science and new advances in technology, and 2/ the need for new tools in food safety (such as AI, genome sequencing, and enhanced electronic recordkeeping) and medical products (such as cell and gene therapy, digital health, AI, and real-world evidence). Addressing cybersecurity concerns is also a priority.
The Alliance supports the Administration’s proposed investments in food safety and nutrition and in implementation of cosmetics safety reform. The organization emphasizes the need for more robust implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, enhanced funding for surveillance of foodborne illnesses, and strengthening of cooperative arrangements with state and local agencies. The Alliance also supports the proposed investments in ending the opioid crisis, improving the medical device supply chain, and developing treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the Alliance supports the proposed investments in enterprise data and IT modernization, regulatory and mission support functions, and infrastructure improvements.
The testimony concludes with the Alliance urging Congress to recognize the multiple opportunities for FDA to be a more effective protector of public health, as well as a fair and efficient regulator. Additional investment in FDA will result in substantial added value to the American public.
Editorial Note:
The Analysis and Commentary section is written by Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.