Thanks to the hard work of Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) advocates nationwide, critical FY 2009 funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a major step forward Thursday. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, announced the subcommittee approved $2.1 billion in spending for FDA, nearly $400 million more than FDA received for the current fiscal year. The money approved in the bill represents the full funding request made by PAN and its advocates and is a $282 million increase over the money originally requested in the Bush Administration’s FDA budget. Earlier this month, the Bush Administration, at the urging of FDA Commissioner, Andrew von Eschenbach, increased its original FDA budget request by $275 million.

“Making sure FDA has the necessary resources continues to be a legislative priority for PAN, and we are pleased that Chairwoman DeLauro recognizes that such increased resources are key to getting safe, effective drugs in the hands of patients faster,” said PAN CEO Amy Comstock Rick. “We continue working with our allies in Congress to fully fund the FDA to review and approve safe, effective treatments for people with Parkinson’s and other diseases. The Parkinson’s community is grateful that Congress has taken this first step to provide the FDA with the resources it needs to quickly and safely review potentially life-saving drugs.”