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www.fdanews.com/articles/9236-president-obama-signs-government-funding-bill-into-law

President Obama Signs Government Funding Bill Into Law

December 18, 2015

The U.S. House and Senate on Friday adopted a sweeping deal to keep the government running through next fall, under which the FDA would be awarded $4.68 billion in total funding for fiscal year 2016.

Part of that amount includes more than $2.7 billion in discretionary funding — a $132 million increase from the previous year — reflecting a 5 percent hike.

The amount is roughly $90 million to $100 million above the House and Senate committee bills passed earlier this year, and $14 million below President Barack Obama’s budget request, according to an analysis by the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.

The bill passed easily, with a 316 to 113 vote in the House and a 65 to 33 vote in the Senate. Obama signed the year-end appropriatons bill late Friday.

The Alliance for a Stronger FDA described the funding as a “victory,” adding that the distribution of funds appears to largely mirror the priorities of the administration’s request.

According to a review of the bill, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health will receive $430 million, up from the $421 million it received the previous year. Of the total, nearly $138 million will come from user fees, up from roughly $128 million.

The bill also contains a provision for a moratorium on the 2.3 percent medical device excise tax for 2016 and 2017 (see related story).

Obama had promised to veto legislation that would repeal the tax. However, during a Wednesday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the President is willing to go along with the two-year suspension of the device tax, citing some important measures in the legislation.

Read the bill here: www.fdanews.com/12-16-15-Fiscal2016OmnibusBill.pdf. — Michael Cipriano