RetireSafe joined The Coalition for a Stronger FDA in applauding members of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Chairman Herbert Kohl and Ranking Member Robert Bennett, for their efforts to increase the Food and Drug Administration’s budget.

This week, the Subcommittee proposed increasing the FDA’s budget by $186 million, including $48.4 million in new funding for the food programs and $33.2 million for the Critical Path Initiative and drug safety measures. The Subcommittee’s bill is $122 million above the President’s budget proposal and more than $70 million above the House subcommittee’s proposal. Senators Kohl and Bennett’s bill represents the most significant increase in the FDA’s budget in recent memory.

“Senators Kohl and Bennett have taken a historic step forward in protecting out nation’s food supply and ensuring the safety of and access to medical drugs and devices,” said Mark McClellan, former FDA Commissioner and co-chairman of the Coalition for a Stronger FDA.

The Subcommittee’s actions will add significant new funds for ensuring quicker approval of safe and effective drugs and devices. $17 million in increased funding is expected to go to the Critical Path Initiative and a further $16.2 million for drug safety.

Furthermore, concerns with imported foods have illustrated the need for substantially more resources to support FDA’s efforts to protect against unsafe imports. In recent years, the FDA has had fewer and fewer inspectors reviewing more and more imported products. The subcommittee’s action today will help begin to reverse that trend by added funding to hire 90 additional inspectors. This is an important component in FDA’s broader import strategic plan.

“Increased FDA funding is essential to ensuring access to safe, affordable and innovative medicines and devices. Adequate funding for food and drug safety measures adds to the retirement security of all Americans,” said RetireSafe President Michelle Plasari.

RetireSafe is a member of The Coalition for a Stronger FDA. The Coalition brings together patient groups, nonprofit organizations, consumer advocates, public health organizations and innovative companies to work together to increase support for the FDA.

The Coalition is designed to be a multi-year effort with the following goals: (1) making sure the FDA has sufficient resources to protect patients and consumers and (2) maintaining and building public confidence and trust in the FDA. More can be found about the Coalition: www.fdacoalition.org.