November 2006
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November 2006
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MassMEDIC
Readies MDUFMA Reauthorization Policy Statement
New Congress Expected to Increase Scrutiny of FDA Operations MassMEDIC’s FDA Working Group is finalizing the development of a policy statement, reflecting industry’s interests and concerns, in advance of Congressional reauthorization of the user fee program next year. The Working Group will deliver its proposed policy statement to the MassMEDIC Board of Directors for their consideration in early December. This document will serve as the basis for all MassMEDIC lobbying activities related to MDUFMA reauthorization and will serve as the backdrop for an early February briefing for the Massachusetts Congressional delegation in Washington. A copy of the final position statement and information on the Capitol Hill issues briefing will be sent to all MassMEDIC members later next month. In related news, November’s elections will likely affect the healthcare and life sciences issue agenda in Washington. Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy will regain his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, with oversight of the Food and Drug Administration. On the House, Rep. Edward Markey will assume a leadership role on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which also is responsible for monitoring the FDA. Post-election news analysis has forecasted that the new Congress will ramp up agency oversight activities. Rep. James McGovern of Worcester becomes the second ranking member of
the House Rules Committee, an extremely powerful position, with responsibilities
for managing debate and legislative amendments on the House floor. Other
Massachusetts members will be assigned to influential positions, making
it among the most powerful state delegations on Capitol Hill. |
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