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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement in response to the Bush administration's decision to amend its Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 budget request to include an additional $275 million for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In April, the New Jersey congressman joined U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, in releasing draft legislation that would ensure the safety of food, drug, medical devices and cosmetics.
"While it's encouraging the Bush administration is finally acting to address some of the serious funding shortfalls at the FDA, the amended request falls far short of what the FDA says it needs to do its job. The FDA's own advisory board estimated the agency would need $100 million more than the president's revised request to ensure the safety of our nation’s food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. After hearing testimony before the Health Subcommittee, I remain skeptical that the board's estimates are even enough.
"I continue to believe that our discussion draft provides the best opportunity for FDA to ensure that it has the resources it needs in this increasingly global marketplace to keep Americans safe. I look forward to working with my fellow Committee Members on this draft and hope to move a bill forward as soon as possible."
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