Senate joins effort to unlock FDA user fees

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday that would exempt future FDA user fees from sequestration. Under the Obama administration's legal interpretation, sequestration applies to user fees paid by industry, even though accessing the fees has no effect on the federal budget deficit. The bill, S. 1413, has been endorsed by a number of industry trade associations, including the Biotechnology Industry Organization and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The bill has been referred to the Senate Budget Committee (see BioCentury, March 11).

Similar legislation has already been introduced in the House of Representatives, where it has the support of Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), chair of the E&C's health subcommittee. That bill, H.R. 2725, has been referred to the House Budget Committee (see BioCentury Extra, July 18). ...