BIO Supports Budget Action to Free Up FDA User Fees

WASHINGTON--()--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.

About BIO

BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter.” Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 10 – 11, 2014
New York, NY

BIO Asia International Conference
April 8-9, 2014
Tokyo, Japan

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
May 12-15, 2014
Philadelphia, PA

BIO International Convention
June 23-26, 2014
San Diego, CA

Livestock Biotech Summit
September 16-18, 2014
Sioux Falls, SD

Contacts

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Tracy Cooley, APR, 202-312-9274
Web: www.bio.org
Blog: www.biotech-now.org
Twitter: @IAmBiotech

Release Summary

BIO applauds the House of Representatives for passing a bipartisan budget deal, which raises discretionary budget caps, which should provide the FDA with complete access to user fees for FY '14 & '15.

Contacts

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Tracy Cooley, APR, 202-312-9274
Web: www.bio.org
Blog: www.biotech-now.org
Twitter: @IAmBiotech