Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Agriculture-FDA spending bill 27-0 Thursday, which would fund the FDA at $6.87 billion.
Why it matters: Both chambers of Congress have now approved their FY25 Ag-FDA funding bills out of the full committees, putting the FDA on track for funding either at flat levels or slightly increased.
- The bill was approved with little debate on the Senate side, with senators approving the bill and the accompanying manager's amendment quickly.
What's inside: The Senate Appropriations Committee included a $22 million increase in discretionary levels for the FDA from FY24 funding levels.
- That includes $1 million more for oversight of cosmetics, $15 million more for food safety, $2 million in new spending for the recently announced Tobacco Task Force and also $55 million to continue implementing the 21st Century Cures Act.
What they're saying: In their closing statements, top appropriators Patty Murray and Susan Collins said they were committed to getting all of the bills approved on the Senate floor if possible.
- They said they wanted to avoid the Fiscal Responsibility Act spending cut penalty if they miss passing the bills by Jan. 1.
- Neither the Senate nor the House got all of their individual appropriations bills passed on the floor last year before having to pass two minibus packages in March.
What we're watching: Senate Appropriations is expected to upload a final version of the Ag-FDA bill including amendments here on their website later today.
