Opinion
By the Alliance for a Stronger FDA
The Alliance for a Stronger FDA expresses its deep appreciation to Chair Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Ranking Member John Hoeven, R- ND and other members of the Senate Ag/FDA Appropriations Subcommittee for their proposed $200 million increase in FY 22 budget authority (BA) funding for FDA. This amount was reported in a subcommittee press release distributed shortly after the subcommittee mark-up on Monday evening. See excerpts below. The bill is scheduled to be marked up by the full committee at 10 a.m. on today.
As described in the subcommittee summary, FDA would receive an increase of $200 million in BA funding in the Senate bill, a 6 percent increase over FY 21 funding.
“The subcommittee mark represents a strong commitment by the Senate to FDA’s resource needs and is consistent with the Alliance’s FY 22 request that FDA receive no less than a $200 million increase in BA funding,” said Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.
“The Senate subcommittee started with a significantly lower budget allocation than the House. However, both bodies chose to provide slightly more than 13% of their available funds to FDA.”
We expect to supplement the numbers announced in the subcommittee press release with additional details once the Senate bill and committee report are released following Wednesday’s markup.
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/summary-agriculture-rural-development-food-and-drug-administration-and-related-agencies-appropriations-act-2022
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, said:“This bipartisan legislation is the product of Democrats and Republicans working together.”
Key points and highlights
The programs and activities funded in the Agriculture Appropriations bill are diverse and touch of the lives of every American…. As the Food and Drug Administration continues their vital work addressing food and drug safety, the bill provides historical increases for the agency that will continue the work being done.
Food and Drug Administration budget
Total funding for FDA is $3.414 billion, an increase of $200 million over fiscal year 2021. The bill focuses on increases for food safety and medical product safety activities of the agency. An increase of $14 million is included for maternal and infant health to work on toxic elements in baby food. To continue the work the agency is doing to address the opioid crisis, the bill includes an increase of $24 million for International Mail Facilities for a total of $62 million.
Millions of illegal products, including opioids, enter these facilities from countries all over the world. FDA is on the front lines to ensure these products do not make it into commerce and these additional funds will allow FDA to continue this important work. Information technology continues to be a priority for the agency and the bill includes an increase of $25 million.
Finally, an increase of $15 million is included to enhance inspections of facilities under FDA’s jurisdiction.
For more information about FDA funding or the Alliance, please contact Steven Grossman at 301-257-9660 of via email at SGrossman@strengthenfda.org or Phil Karting at 202-365-5358 or pkarsting@ofwlaw.com.
About the alliance