FDA user fees

NDMA writes Senate Appropriations/agriculture subcommittee Chair Dale Bumpers (D-Ark.) on Aug. 9 urging him to support full funding for FDA and "oppose the Senate amendment adding $163 mil. in new user fees to reduce the deficit" that was adopted in July. A similar request was made by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ("The Tan Sheet" Aug. 15, In Brief). NDMA also railed against the "substitution of general purpose user fees for regular appropriations because it would reduce the level of basic appropriations for FDA salaries and expenses to about $95 mil. below the estimated threshold" for FY 1995. NDMA urged members of the conference committee to "agree on the House-approved level of $835 mil. in basic appropriations and oppose any efforts to substitute user fees for regular appropriations"