U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) on Feb. 26 introduced legislation that would guarantee federal funds continued flowing to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support certain medical device manufacturers during federal funding gaps.
“Patients deserve access to life-saving devices and companies dedicated to providing these innovations should not have their hands tied by the government’s inability to provide adequate funding for its agencies,” Rep. Emmer said on Tuesday.
The Medical Innovation Never Stops Act of 2019, H.R. 1362, would permit the FDA to continue processing new device applications and associated applicant user fees during any delays in government appropriations, according to Rep. Emmer.
“This common-sense fix will allow the FDA to access funds that companies have already agreed to pay for the review process,” said Rep. Emmer.
Such action under an enacted H.R. 1362, the congressman said, also would ensure that the review process of these medical devices could continue in a timely manner, as would patient access to new treatments.
Rep. Emmer pointed out that his home state of Minnesota is one of the nation’s main bases for medical technology and innovation.
“These companies work every day to provide critical research for life-saving devices,” he said. “Putting the discovery of new breakthrough technologies at risk only hurts patients all around the country.”
H.R. 1362 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.