FDA Gets Increased Budget from President
A supplemental appropriations bill received approval from President Bush. This provides for an additional $150 million to support the FDA during fiscal year 2008-2009. The bill was enacted at the end of June, as noted by Health Imaging.
The bill, H.R. 2642, was approved by the House of Representatives in the middle of June. It allows the agency to spend the newly alloted funds through the end of September 2009. The bill passed by the Senate with an overwhelming majority.
The Senate previously approved a bill to provide the regulatory agency with $275 million, which was noted on HospitalBuyer. The additional $275 million was requested by FDA Commissioner Dr. von Eschenbach to provide an immediate infusion of funds to support the strapped agency. This initial funding proposed by the Senate was to be appended to the initial budget for the next fiscal year proposed by President Bush.
A number of different agencies within the FDA will receive dedicated funds, as delineated in the bill. Those include the following:
- $12.7 million for the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and related Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) field activities,
- $3.4 million for the National Center for Toxicological Research,
- $66.8 million for the Center for Food Safety,
- $6.1 million for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and related ORA field activities,
- $28 million for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and ORA field activities,
- $20.1 million for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and
- $12.9 million for a number of different other activities including the Office of the Commissioner; the Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness; the Office of Operations; Office of Scientific and Medical Programs; the Office of International and Special Programs, as well as central services for each office.
July 8, 2008 Related topics: Legal & legislative