Tagged with “Congress”

White House Asks for $275 million for the FDA

We are very pleased to announce that the Administration has taken the highly unusual step of amending its FY 2009 budget to include an additional $275 million for the FDA.

Last month we let you know the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Chief, Andrew Von Eschenbach, wrote a letter to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) expressing the dire need of an influx of $275 million. This was very unusual for a political appointee to go against the proposed budget of the President.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 10th, 2008
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Tags: Appropriations, Bush Administration, Congress, FDA

Speaker Pelosi – Support Increased Funding at NIH

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

“Since FY 2003, NIH and NCI have received flat funding or been cut. Research progress has been significantly hindered, and NIH and NCI have been forced to make painful cuts to ongoing research projects, including the delay and scaling back of clinical trials and research for currently under-researched and deadly cancers such as cancers of the colon and rectum, pancreas, lung, ovarian, and brain. The additional $400 million would be an infusion of support for institutions across the country, supporting as many as 700 new research grants.”

On Wednesday, June 4, One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting that the House retain the $400 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that was included in the Senate’s version of the supplemental appropriations bill (HR 2642).

As a member of OVAC, C3 is urging everyone to contact their Member of Congress and ask them to support HR 2642. Click here to find your elected official’s contact information.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 6th, 2008
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Tags: Appropriations, Congress, NCI, NIH, OVAC

Congressional Budget Resolution Passes Both Chambers

The House of Representatives approved the 2009 Budget Resolution on Thursday by a vote of 214 – 210. The Senate approved the Resolution on Wednesday.

Posted by Joe Arite on June 5th, 2008
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Tags: Appropriations, Budget, Congress

FY 08 Emergency Supplemental Passes Senate

Today, the Senate passed the FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill for military operations abroad by a vote of 70 to 26. The Senate also passed a separate bill which provides supplemental funding in FY 2008 for domestic programs by a vote of 75 to 22. This bill includes $400 million for NIH and $275 million for the FDA. The two bills will be combined before any further activity takes place.

The House’s current FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill does not include the emphasis on domestic programs. This is due largely to the fact that the White House has stated it will veto any supplemental funding legislation that doesn’t focus exclusively on military spending. The House and Senate will have to negotiate a final, compromised package to send to the White House after the Memorial Day recess.

Click here for the Roll Call Vote

Posted by Joe Arite on May 22nd, 2008
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Tags: Congress, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, FDA, NIH

Dingell to Companies…Stop Using “Misleading and Deceptive” Ads

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, John Dingell (D-MI) and Oversight Subcommittee Chair, Bart Stupak (D-MI) sent letters to Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Schering-Plough and Pfizer asking them to stop using “misleading and deceptive” direct-to-consumer advertising.

Dingell in a statement said, “Marketing department leaders have failed to commit to reducing misleading and deceptive ads, so we’re now asking the CEOs to make this agreement.” Stupak said, “We intend to make certain that drug companies market their product properly in order to protect American consumers from manipulative commercials designed to mislead and deceive for profit.”

Posted by Joe Arite on May 22nd, 2008
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Tags: Congress, DTC, FDA, Johnson and Johnson, Procrit