Leaders in Congress said they hope to pass a short-term, two-week 2018 "continuing resolution" by Dec. 8 to fund US FDA and other federal agencies until Dec. 22. Industry lobbyists also hope to squeeze device tax repeal language into a final budget measure this month, and medical researchers are asking Congress to lift the budget cap for more National Institutes of Health funding.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan vowed to prevent an FDA and government-wide shut down by passing a two-week continuing resolution before current funding runs out on Dec. 8.
Democrats in the House and Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi agreed. They...