The Wall Street Journal-20080130-Democrats Seek More FDA Funds

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Democrats Seek More FDA Funds

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Congressional Democrats began a push for more Food and Drug Administration funding, saying the agency lacks the resources to deal with risks to consumers and pressing the agency's head to endorse more spending.

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing yesterday, at which FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach was a featured witness, set the stage for a debate over the issue just days before the White House is expected to release its budget proposal on Feb. 4.

Some Democratic lawmakers want to bolster spending on consumer-goods regulation and fault the Bush administration for a series of high- profile recalls and other safety issues that arose last year with products ranging from toys to pet food.

But despite comments from Democrats backing an increased FDA budget, the FDA may not get a substantially larger appropriation, because of a squeeze from the Iraq war and economic-stimulus efforts, among other costs.

Industry lobbyists don't expect a dramatic increase in the Bush administration's budget request for the FDA. Agency officials declined to comment about the budget proposal.

Officials from industry and academia and congressional investigators, echoed concerns that Americans could be put at risk because of the FDA's limited resources, technology and staffing.