Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013

Floor Speech

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S. 622).

While the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S. 622) will improve the FDA's ability to evaluate and process the approval of drugs for use in animals, it fails to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to also address the growing overuse of antibiotics fed to our nation's livestock that ends up on our dinner tables.

According to the New York Times article of June 2, 2013 (``Pressure Grows to Create Drugs for `Superbugs' ''), America is facing a worsening crisis in which drug development has not kept pace with the growth of resistant bacterial strains. More than 70,000 Americans die each year from antibiotic resistant infections. Scientists agree that antibiotic overuse, including in animals and on farms, is a contributor to development of resistant bacteria. Congress must start to address the looming public health crisis posed by the combination of a shortage of effective antibiotics and a rising threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Congress needs to direct the FDA to develop better means of data collection and research on antibiotic use in both humans and animals. Without this information, we cannot fully understand the breadth and depth of this issue and its impact on our health. Reducing unnecessary overprescribing and overuse of antibiotics in an appropriate manner is an important step to improve both human and animal health. I urge my colleagues to vote no.

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