In Brief

Democrats complain planned cuts to FDA funding could hurt public health, but offered no change to the agency’s proposed fiscal year 2013 appropriation during a mark-up June 6. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies discussed FDA in opening comments. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., a former chair of the subcommittee, said underfunding FDA would risk Americans’ health. But Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., praised an increase in food safety funding and did not mention the proposed cuts among those that went “beyond lean.” FDA would receive $16.3 million less in budget authority, meaning non-user fee funding, in FY 2013 compared to FY 2012. The cut is less than 1%, but also is $44 million less than the FY 2013 funding bill under consideration in the Senate. The House bill would rescind $47.7 million in unobligated balances from prior-year discretionary funds, which a committee staffer said was common practice. Overall, the House bill would give FDA $3.835 billion in treasury and user fee money, while the Senate bill would allocate $3.878 billion.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association presses the Senate to follow the House’s lead and repeal a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that blocks consumers from paying...