FDA Funding Bill Clears House Subcommittee, Device User Fees Match Agency’s Request

A fiscal 2017 agricultural appropriations bill that breezed through its first congressional hurdle Wednesday proposes a slight funding increase for the FDA, but is still well below the agency’s funding request.

Under the funding bill, the FDA would receive $4.78 billion for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, an increase of $97.4 million from the current budget year (IDDM, Dec. 21, 2015). However, that is $320 million less than the agency requested in its budget proposal (IDDM, Feb. 15).

The proposal provides $2.7 billion in discretionary funding, a bump of $33 million over the current fiscal year and in line with the agency’s request, with the remainder coming from user fees.

The bill estimates roughly $145 million in medical device user fees, which falls in line with the agency’s request. In addition, the bill would appropriate $439.2 million for CDRH and related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs.

The House appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee passed the appropriations bill with no amendments by voice vote. It now goes to the full Appropriations Committee. — Cameron Ayers