Urging Members of Congress to Request Strong FDA Funding for FY 2025

Every year–near the beginning of the budget cycle–appropriators solicit input from their colleagues about funding priorities. Most Members of Congress participate in this process and they endeavor to reflect their constituents’ views. 

The Alliance is actively involved, asking Member offices to make increased FDA funding one of their priorities. We encourage Alliance members to join us in doing so. 

The process is described below. Additionally, if you have any questions or need specific assistance, please contact Roger Szemraj, who is part of the Alliance team and a former appropriations committee staffer. 

Why is this so important? Every year, when we meet with the chief clerks of the Ag/FDA appropriations subcommittees to present the Alliance’s funding request and its rationale, they tell us that it’s important for the subcommittee to also hear our FDA funding message from individual Representatives and Senators.

Each Congressman and Senator sets their own internal deadlines.  These deadlines are often from one to three weeks before the deadline the subcommittee has given Members of Congress.   

While subcommittee deadlines have not been announced, the Alliance is working to identify individual deadlines set by specific House and Senate members. Some deadlines are even before the President’s FY 2025 request is likely to be sent to Congress.  Contacting Roger is a good way to find out offices that are asking for input. 

There is no standard form for the submission of requests.  Some offices have forms that can be completed online.  Other offices have forms to be completed offline and then submitted as instructed.  Most forms require some or all of the following information:

• The bill for which support is requested (Agriculture appropriations);

• The agency involved (FDA);

• The specific account for which funding is requested (Salaries and Expenses, Buildings and Facilities);

• The amount being requested;

• The President’s request (no FY 25 request yet available; FY 24 was $3.96 billion);

• The problem or issue to be addressed, including as many details as possible, and why the problem cannot be addressed without this appropriation;

• A description of the project or program, what it will do, and why it is necessary;

• Describe the services and products that will be provided and the reasons for your request, including the impact on constituents and businesses in that particular Congressional District or State; and

• The history of funding for the account, including the President’s requests, past action by the House and Senate, and final appropriation for up to the past five years.

Every submission is an opportunity to make Members and staff more aware of FDA’s expanding mission and growing responsibilities. Please join us in delivering this message.

Editorial Note:
The Analysis and Commentary section is written by Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.