FreedomWorks Opposes House Efforts to Expand Authority of Food and Drug Administration

Over the years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has increased its power and shifted its focus away from pharmaceutical and medical device approvals and food safety issues and towards the enforcement and administration of regulations and guidelines on a wide range of consumer products.

U.S. consumers consequently experience significant and unnecessary delays, sometimes waiting years, for the approval of new, innovative drugs and therapies. Unfortunately for those who are in critical need of these therapies, their wait may be even longer if Congress passes the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act currently under debate in the House would give FDA authority over tobacco-related consumer products. Proponents of FDA oversight of the tobacco industry have sought this legislative authority since 2000, when the Supreme Court voted five to four that the agency’s earlier claim of authority over tobacco was unconstitutional.

“Instead of wasting valuable time and energy to broaden the FDA’s authority, Congress should focus its attention on improving the agency’s approval process for life-saving drugs,” said Matt Kibbe, President of FreedomWorks. “The approval process is long and costly, depriving consumers access to the latest therapies. In addition, the FDA desperately needs a pathway for the regulatory approval of new drug therapies such as biogenerics. Congress would provide consumers a great benefit by enacting legislation to create the necessary approval process for the next generation of drugs.”