Senate, House Health Committee Leaders Release Discussion Draft of FDA User Fees Reauthorization

Press Release

The leaders of the Senate and House health committees today released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Food and Drug Administration user fee agreements.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reauthorization Act of 2017 renews FDA's authority to collect user fees from the makers of prescription brand drugs, medical devices, generic drugs and biosimilars, and several vital programs at the FDA. The 2012 prescription drug user fee amendments (PDUFA), medical device user fee amendments (MDUFA), generic drug user fee amendments (GDUFA), and biosimilar user fee amendments (BsUFA) all must be updated and reauthorized by Congress before the current user fee agreements expire on September 30.

If the agreements are not reauthorized before the August work period, the agency will be forced to send layoff notices to more than 5,000 FDA employees. A delay in reauthorizing these agreements would delay the reviews of critical drugs and devices.

"If we do not move quickly to reauthorize these agreements, in late July, the FDA will be forced to begin sending layoff notices to more than 5,000 employees to notify them that they may lose their job in 60 days," Sen Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee said. "The sooner we reauthorize the agreements, the better -- to give patients, reviewers, and companies certainty. In addition to harming patients and families that rely on medical innovation, a delay in reauthorizing the user fees would threaten biomedical industry jobs and America's global leadership in biomedical innovation."

"I'm encouraged by our bipartisan work to reauthorize these agreements to advance safe, effective, and innovative medical products," Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee said. "Patients and families nationwide are relying on us to ensure FDA can continue its vital work without interruption. I hope that we can continue to put partisanship aside and advance this important legislation."

"We are fully committed to a timely reauthorization of the agreements and are well on our way," said Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "This represents another opportunity to help expedite the review and approval of new cures and treatments for patients, and we must prioritize it. As this process proceeds, I look forward to continued discussions with my colleagues in the House on other member priorities that could strengthen this important legislation."

"The swift reauthorization of these user fee agreements is critical to making sure FDA has the resources and personnel it needs to ensure timely review and approval of safe and effective medical treatments," said Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "These carefully negotiated agreements encourage innovation, improve our regulatory review process, and provide certainty to both patients and industry. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation through Congress and to the President's desk."