Funding
prospects for FDA in FY 2012 remain unknown following passage of the Budget
Control Act of 2011. The deal that
raised the debt ceiling level provides spending levels to appropriations
subcommittees that are over $34 billion more than the House passed FY 2012
budget resolution. This extra money could
potentially provide some relief for FDA, as well as other federal science
agencies like the NIH. The House FY 2012
appropriations bill would cut FDA’s budget by $285 million, an 11.5% cut below
its FY 2011 level. However, it is not clear how the House will
allocate the extra $34 billion. A higher
spending level for appropriators increases the prospects for a better funding
level for FDA in FY 2012. There has been
no action in the Senate but after Congress returns in September, the
Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill might be marked up. At that time, it may become clearer to
determine what FDA’s FY 2012 funding level might be. The FDA advocacy community
has advocated for an increase of $287 million above FY 11. For additional information on FDA advocacy
visit the Alliance for a Stronger FDA
.