2008 Supplemental With Extra $150 Million for FDA Is Sent to White House

The Senate approved a supplemental appropriations bill last week, giving the FDA an additional $150 million for this fiscal year if the president signs it.

Already cleared by the House, H.R. 2642 permits the agency to spend the money through Sept. 30, 2009. The amount is a little more than half the $275 million the Senate originally approved in May, as suggested by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach in a letter to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).

The $150 million awaiting President Bush’s signature consists of:

• $28 million for CDER and related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA);
• $12.7 million for CBER and related ORA field activities;
• $20.1 million for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health and related ORA field activities;
• $3.4 million for the National Center for Toxicological Research;
• $12.9 million for other activities, including the Office of the Commissioner; the Office of Scientific and Medical Programs; the Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness; the Office of International and Special Programs; the Office of Operations; and central services for these offices; and
• $66.8 million for the Center for Food Safety and $6.1 million for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and related ORA field activities.