Bush approves $150M budget boost to FDA
  
FDA’s various departments to receive increased funding. Source: East Carolina University University 
  
President George W. Bush has approved a supplemental appropriations bill, giving the FDA an additional $150 million for its 2008-2009 fiscal year budget.

Cleared by the House on June 19, H.R. 2642 permits the agency to spend the money through Sept. 30, 2009. The bill passed through the Senate, by the House’s amendment with an overwhelming vote of 92–6.

The amount is a little more than half of 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, which became law on June 30, consists of:
  • $28 million for Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA);
  • $12.7 million for Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 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;
  • $66.8 million for the Center for Food Safety; and
  • $6.1 million for the Center for Veterinary Medicine and related ORA field activities.
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