Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) expressed her support Thursday for additional funding for implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). In a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Gillibrand asked that they allocate an additional $50 million for fiscal year 2015 for FSMA. The request was in support of a letter released Monday by the Pew Charitable Trusts and dozens of foodborne illness victims. Pew has asked that Congress provide at least $50 million additional for FY2015 — “a solid down-payment on the $300 million we will likely need” for FSMA implementation over the next two years. “Building a strong and modern food safety system will take more than a set of final FSMA rules,” Gillibrand wrote. “Congress must ensure that FDA has sufficient resources to protect the public’s health and better ensure the safety of the food supply while helping farmers, food processors, and importers meet these standards effectively.”