Frank Pallone

Don cared so deeply about his hometown of Newark and the other towns that he represented.

I know you started to get into that with Dr. Burgess but take the 4 minutes to maybe explain it a little more.

I think it is critical that we ensure that they have the resources to do it.

It is obvious the administration agrees that the cosmetics program is in need of resources because your budget includes fees for activities like registration and standard setting.

I just think the consequence of that is that, you know, we are really going to threaten the already vulnerable pediatric health care workforce.

I am dismayed that the White House only proposes $88 million, approximately one-third the amount which Congress appropriated for the program last year.

I am pleased that the administration has come to its senses and included funding for the Children's Graduate Medical Education.

I would like to see the wage base in each State included in the calculation for eligibility of the tax credit.

I am also a strong believer in the importance of government investment in advancing science and research.

I think we are making a lot of progress and I certainly urge the President and the Secretary to continue taking the steps necessary under the ACA to improve our health care system.

I believe it is important that Congress do everything possible to encourage high-tech 21st century industries like the medical device manufacturing that will continue to create jobs and necessary to grow the U.S. economy.

Many consumer groups are concerned that for FDA and the public to be confident in the objectivity of the advice FDA receives, every effort must be made to minimize the number of conflicted experts that serve on these committees.

I mean, I as a politician get that from both ends, you know, 'Why aren't you moving quickly?' On the other hand, everything has to be safe.

H.R. 3202, the Novel Device Regulatory Relief Act, appears to be intended to streamline the de novo process for FDA approval of medical devices.

I think it is unfortunate that after 5 years, I think we should be closer on implementation on what I consider a very critical component.

I have been interested in how to fix it for a long time. In fact, when I was the chairman of the subcommittee, we held a hearing in 2009. Quite frankly, both before and after that hearing, I was of the opinion that the 510(k) process was…

I am happy that things are moving forward.

The imbalance of inspection requirements between U.S. and foreign manufacturing facilities creates an uneven playing field for pharmaceutical plants in the U.S.

Both you and the FDA Commissioner Hamburg gave assurances to the generic industry that the Biosimilar User Fee Program would receive 20 million in funding.

Are there any new authorities that would help the FDA in making sure that companies meet those responsibilities?

Thank you. Now, would it be helpful to have additional resources to conduct more foreign inspections of brand facilities?

So it is more a question of the resources than new authority then?

As you know, Mr. Dingell, Ms. DeGette, myself, and Mr. Waxman have introduced the Drug Safety Enhancement Act that gives the FDA authorities and resource to address the problem of these ingredients and drugs from overseas.

We are going to move forward with them.

I am supportive of its passage.