Stopgap Funding Bill Sought as Path Forward for FDA User Fees

Key senators say the only way to avoid layoffs at the FDA is to attach user fee legislation to a government funding bill.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate panel that oversees the fees that industry pays to the Food and Drug Administration, said Tuesday that time was running out to reauthorize the fees before the current agreement expires Sept. 30—which would force the FDA to potentially lay off thousands of employees.

She said her goal is to work with fellow negotiators to get reauthorization added to a continuing resolution Congress wants to pass to keep the ...