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How To Submit Comment Re: FDA (FDA-CVM) 2023 budget

FDA-CVM is continuing their refusal to properly address various longstanding, and rectifiable issues. In their "2023 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees", FDA writes glowingly about FDA-CVM regulatory actions. (FDA-CVM related material starts on page 172 https://www.fda.gov/media/157192/download). 

FDA-CVM has continuously stated it can't meet its obligations under FOIA law because of "resources". FDA-CVM has also stated it doesn't have the resources to hold regular, public meetings. In its request for "$43 million in additional investments in food safety modernization, including animal food safety oversight", FOIA is not mentioned. Public meetings are not mentioned. FDA-CVM does not make it known that there is significant interest from the public in these areas. The agency simply ignores the issues. 

Part of my argument over the years is that FDA-CVM doesn't want, nor do they care to fix these issues. I believe part of the proof for my argument is right here in this 2023 budget "justification". If FDA-CVM took its obligation under FOIA law seriously, then why haven't they detailed any financial need to hire additional FOIA staff? The agency is currently estimating wait times of 18-24 months for all FOIA requests, and they haven't released any public statement as to how they're actually going to rectify this issue. Their only plan seems to be to continue to allow the problem to get worse, while requesting $43 million in "additional" funds from taxpayers. 

Members of the public can comment publicly on FDA's 2023 budget request. Directions on how to do so are pictured below. 




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