House panel moves FDA funding bill with abortion and tobacco riders

- Maya Goldman, author ofAxios Vitals

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The House Appropriations subcommittee in charge of FDA funding easily approved a fiscal 2024 spending bill Thursday that would reverse the agency's decision to allow mail-order mifepristone.
- The bill would also prevent HHS from banning menthol in cigarettes and from setting a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes.
The big picture: Although committee Democrats protested the riders — and many other elements of the 113-page bill — they did not offer any amendments that would strike the conservative policies.
- The bill sailed through to the full committee in a voice vote.
Zoom out: In 2021, the FDA committed to banning menthol cigarettes. The following year, the agency proposed a ceiling on nicotine level in cigarettes.
- FDA in late 2021 also permanently allowed mifepristone to be ordered via mail.
- Now, the agency faces legal challenges to its approval of the abortion pill.
What they're saying: "I strongly oppose both these riders in the interest of public health," Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said during Thursday’s markup.
Of note: The bill would provide about $6.6 billion to the FDA in fiscal 2024. President Biden’s 2024 budget requested $7.2 billion total for the agency.
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