House seeks to block Reagan-Udall funding

The omnibus appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives on Monday would prevent FDA from funding the Reagan-Udall Foundation. The Senate is expected to retain the provision when it considers the legislation this week, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). DeLauro, who was responsible for eliminating federal funding for the foundation from the House bill, has said that the foundation could prompt FDA to lower its approval standards, and charged that industry has too much influence over the foundation's governance.

Earlier this month, DeLauro called on FDA to investigate the appointment of Tadataka Yamada, executive director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's global health program, to the Reagan-Udall Foundation's board of directors (See BioCentury Extra, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2007). ...