Obama Threatens to Veto 2013 FDA Appropriations Bill

June 27, 2012

On June 21, 2012, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy strongly opposing House passage of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2013 (H.R. 5973). H.R. 5973 makes appropriations for agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agency programs for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2013. The policy statement notes that passage of the bill would undermine investments in financial oversight and would impose harmful cuts to rural economic development, renewable energy development, nutrition programs, food safety, and international food aid. The President opposes certain cuts to the budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FDA, and agencies such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.  According to the policy statement, should the President be presented with H.R. 5973, “his senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill.”

H.R. 5973 provides $3.8 billion in funding for the FDA, falling $700 million short of the $4.5 billion in total resources the President requested for the agency. Additionally, the bill would rescind previous appropriations and does not include new proposed user fees. The proposed new user fees the Administration is requesting would be targeted to areas where the industries involved derive direct benefits from the FDA’s regulatory oversight. The policy statement notes that the proposed user fees are essential to supporting the FDA’s ability to make food and medical products safer and to increase access to safe and effective generic drugs and biologics.

H.R. 5973 passed the House Appropriations Committee on June 19, 2012, and is expected be presented for a full House vote in the near future.

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