5 More Biomedical Innovation Bills Skate Through Markup

A final batch of biomedical innovation bills sailed through markup during a meeting of the Senate HELP Committee last week, as lawmakers work toward passing a companion to the House’s 21st Century Cures Act this session.

One of the five measures passed during the third and final markup of the cluster of biomedical innovation bills was the FDA and NIH Workforce Authorities Modernization Act (S. 2700), introduced by Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

The bill would enable the FDA to recruit and retain research and review scientists by increasing the number of slots from 500 to 2,000.  The 21st Century Cures Act would raise the 500-member cap for the Senior Biomedical Research Service, but does not specify a new ceiling.