BIO Supports Budget Action to Free Up FDA User Fees

Washington, D.C. (December 13, 2013) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) applauds the House of Representatives for passing a bipartisan budget deal, which raises discretionary budget caps, which should provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with complete access to its user fees for FYs '14 and '15. 

The following statement can be attributed to Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO):

“BIO commends the Congress for their efforts in reaching a bipartisan budget deal.  We applaud the forward-thinking action being taken to release the user fees paid by our members to the FDA from sequestration constraints. 

“Allowing the FDA full access to the privately paid fees helps safeguard patient safety and ensures continued innovation.  Our member companies make the medicines and technologies that diagnose and treat thousands of conditions, ranging from Alzheimer’s to cancer to HIV/AIDS to diabetes. Bringing novel and generic medicines, medical devices and diagnostics to patients requires a sufficiently-funded FDA that has the resources required to keep pace with scientific advances.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Congress throughout the budget process.  Also, we call on the House and the Senate to pass both S. 1413, the Pryor/Blunt FDA User Fee Protection Act and H.R. 2725, the Lance/Eshoo FDA SOS Act, to ensure FDA user fees are never again sequestered. ”

For more information on the latest policy issues and legislation affecting the biotech industry, please visit www.bio.org. 

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