House passes bill to renew FDA user fees

The House passed a bipartisan bill this afternoon to reauthorize the user fees that help pay for the Food and Drug Administration's oversight of drugs and medical devices. The trouble-free passage happened largely because Republicans and Democrats resisted attempts to add more divisive measures, like the Trump administration's proposal to make the industry pay the full cost of medical product reviews.

What's next: The Senate has had its version ready to go since May, when the HELP Committee approved the companion bill. But it can't come to the floor until the Senate deals with that other health care bill you might have heard about. HELP Committee chairman Lamar Alexander has said he wants a final FDA bill to clear Congress before the August recess — which is now starting late.