[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S7783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FEINGOLD:
  S. 1477. A bill to establish a user fee for follow-up reinspections 
under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill that would 
charge a reinspection fee for goods that fail FDA inspection for good 
manufacturing practices. Currently, businesses do not have to pay for 
the second inspection if they fail. Essentially, then, the FDA is 
absorbing this extra cost. This Nation faces difficult enough choices 
without subsidizing private companies that fail basic inspections. I am 
pleased to credit the Bush administration for originally proposing this 
fee, which is again proposed in President Obama's fiscal year 2010 
budget. This fee carries proposed savings of an estimated $24 million 
per year, and could save as much as $115 million over 5 years.
  We must ensure that U.S. taxpayer money is being used efficiently and 
effectively, and this measure would help in our ongoing efforts to 
streamline government programs and reduce the Federal budget deficit. 
FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach testified about these fees 
before the House Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA Appropriations 
Subcommittee in 2006. He believes, and I agree, that the reinspection 
fee will motivate businesses to comply with long-established health and 
safety standards. Businesses that do not meet Federal standards should 
bear the burden of the reinspection, rather than getting a free pass at 
the taxpayer's expense.
  One of the main reasons I first ran for the U.S. Senate was to 
restore fiscal responsibility to the Federal budget. I have worked 
throughout my Senate career to eliminate wasteful spending and to 
reduce the budget deficit. Unless we return to fiscally responsible 
budgeting, Congress will saddle our nation's younger generations with 
an enormous financial burden for years to come. This bill is one small 
step in that direction.
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