Preparing for the Alliance’s FY 25 “Ask”
Q: What is the Alliance “ask?”
A: “FDA is underfunded and needs more resources” and “FDA’s responsibilities are growing faster than its budget” are central to the Alliance’s advocacy. However, neither answers Congress’ key questions:
Why do we believe FDA is underfunded relative to its responsibilities;
Which continuing and new initiatives are underfunded; and
How much funding is needed?
Each year, shortly after the release of the President’s Budget Request, the Alliance creates a document, “our ask,” to respond to Congressional demand for better rationale and more specific funding recommendations. The “ask” is the platform on which our lobbying and advocacy rests for the entire year.
Q: How is the Alliance “ask” compiled and who has the final say in its content?
A: The Alliance staff carefully reviews the FDA’s priorities as reflected in the President’s Request. Our summaries and analyses are shared through our Friday Update and other publications. Much of the stakeholder community has direct or indirect access to what we publish.
We then seek input from our Alliance members, asking them to provide feedback on their funding priorities and the magnitude of those needs. If you believe you are an Alliance member and did not receive an email from me asking for input on the Alliance “ask” on Monday afternoon (March 18), please let me know (sgrossman@strengthenfda.org).
Once member feedback is received (by March 25), staff will compose a draft “ask” that will be sent to the Alliance board for review. Only the board has the authority to set the size of the Alliance “ask” and its component parts. Our target is the release of a board-approved Alliance “ask” in early April.
Q: Why is the Alliance “ask” so important?
A: More than just the substance, the Alliance “ask” delivers the message that a broad base of FDA’s stakeholders supports the agency and advocates for it to have the necessary resources. There is no other federal regulatory agency that enjoys this type of support.
Because the stakeholder community is united, our voice is being heard. Over the last 12 months, 104 reporters have produced 597 news stories and editorials that mention the Alliance’s advocacy positions and educational programs.
Q: How do Congressional staff respond to the Alliance’s “ask”?
A: Each year, appropriations staff have hundreds of meetings with advocates for every cause imaginable. The vast majority of those meetings are parochial—interest groups ask for monies that serve their members’ needs.
Nothing wrong with that, but our meetings are different. We stand out. Why? Because when a consumer group, a public health advocate, and a company come together on FDA’s behalf, it is automatically a different kind of meeting for staff. It is understood that there may be a number of policy issues on which their interests diverge, but FDA’s resource needs unite them.
Q: Can everyone use the Alliance’s “ask” as part of their own advocacy?
A: Yes and we encourage it. The power of our “ask” is that it unites all the FDA stakeholder communities across all of the agency’s many responsibilities. Nothing powers the message more effectively than the non-partisan and non-parochial way the “ask” comes together.
Q: Can Alliance members use different numbers?
A: Yes. This question comes up from time to time and our answer is straightforward: use the Alliance “ask” because of the unity it reflects and the credibility it provides. Then specify to your audience where your group or interest would have allocated differently.
Editorial Note:
The Analysis and Commentary section is written by Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.