House Appropriations Committee Member Pursues FDA-Litigation Link

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A democratic member of the House Appropriations Committee is continuing his effort to cut $500,000 from appropriation of the U.S. Food and Drug Association's Office of Chief Counsel because of what he calls the counsel's improper intrusion into civil drug litigation.

In July, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) offered an amendment on the House Floor to the 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The amendment was approved on a voice vote.

The amendment would reduce the FDA's counsel budget but add $500,000 to the budget for the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communication, which monitors drug advertising.

The …