Late Tuesday night, the House of Representatives released a $1.1-trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30, 2016. Lobbyists for full funding of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) were pleased with the numbers. The Food and Drug Administration
Continue Reading Spending Bill Includes $104-Million Increase for FSMA, COOL Repeal
FDA Tells Senate Subcommittee Full Funding is ‘Absolutely Critical’ for FSMA Success
It’s an oft-heard statement from officials at the Food and Drug Administration: The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires sufficient funding allocated by Congress in order to be a success. The testimony that Acting FDA Commissioner Stephen Ostroff and Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Michael Taylor gave before
Continue Reading FDA Tells Senate Subcommittee Full Funding is ‘Absolutely Critical’ for FSMA Success
Amendment to Increase FSMA Funding Fails in Committee
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016 on Thursday after discussing a handful of amendments. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) proposed an amendment to increase the funding allocated for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), but it was ultimately voted down. This came
Continue Reading Amendment to Increase FSMA Funding Fails in Committee
Senate Ag Appropriations Bill Heads to Full Committee
The Senate’s FY 2016 agriculture appropriations bill has received subcommittee approval and will be considered by the full appropriations committee on Thursday. The bill includes a $45-million increase for the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety activities. Although $3.5 million more than the House allocation, the increase is still
Continue Reading Senate Ag Appropriations Bill Heads to Full Committee
Food Safety Plays Minimal Role in House Appropriations Markup
Food safety was not a significant part of discussions Wednesday during the House Appropriations Committee markup of the agriculture funding bill. Nutrition policies, the Food for Peace program and FDA pre-market review of e-cigarettes were some of the major topics of debate. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) praised the inclusion of
Continue Reading Food Safety Plays Minimal Role in House Appropriations Markup
House Appropriations Gives FSMA $41.5-Million Increase
The House Appropriations Committee has allocated a $41.5-million increase for the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety activities for fiscal year 2016, but it’s less than half of what President Obama’s budget requested. Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) said Thursday in his opening remarks before the subcommittee’s markup of
Continue Reading House Appropriations Gives FSMA $41.5-Million Increase
Groups Want Increased Funding to Support CDC’s PulseNet Database
As Congress works to prepare its appropriations bills for fiscal year 2016, nine health and consumer groups are requesting that extra funding be allocated for the national database used to track foodborne illness outbreaks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s PulseNet is a national network of public health and
Continue Reading Groups Want Increased Funding to Support CDC’s PulseNet Database
Savings From a Single Food Safety Agency Appeal to Some House Republicans
Some House Republicans appear to be considering proposals for a single food safety agency. In January, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced bills to establish such an agency independent of any federal department. In his budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, President Obama proposed the
Continue Reading Savings From a Single Food Safety Agency Appeal to Some House Republicans
White House Wants to Nearly Double Funding for Antibiotic Resistance Fight
President Obama wants to nearly double — to more than $1.2 billion — federal funding for combating and preventing antibiotic resistance. The administration is expected to release its full 2016 budget proposal next week, but a fact sheet released Tuesday provided a blueprint for investments in fighting antibiotic resistance —
Continue Reading White House Wants to Nearly Double Funding for Antibiotic Resistance Fight