Coalition group calls for bigger FDA budget

The Los Angeles Times reports that when the president's budget was announced, calling for an increase in the FDA's budget, "a coalition of public interest advocates, patient groups and healthcare industry interests regulated by the FDA had a swift response: It's not enough. 'We are disappointed in the president's budget request and ... will seek to increase' the budget, said Steven Grossman, deputy executive director of Alliance for a Stronger FDA. The group lists seven former FDA commissioners and many of the largest and most influential consumer, food and pharmaceutical trade groups among its 180 members."

"Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FDA and a staunch advocate for more funding for the agency, said in a statement that considering how bleak the federal government's finances are, the 6% increase is 'reassuring'" (Zajac, 2/11).