Federal Daily - February 28, 2008
Experts Say FDA Budget Must Be Doubled, Staff Added
To prevent further weakening of the safety system that protects the nation’s food and drug supply,
an expert panel has recommended that the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) budget be doubled
to $3.5 billion to allow the agency to hire adequate staff. The recommendations are part of an FDA
Science Board report—which is highly critical of the agency for shortfalls in staffing and information
technology—released Feb. 26 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “FDA’s resource
shortfalls have resulted in a plethora of inadequacies that threaten our society,” the report
noted, adding that all of the major agency centers share some blame. The report pointed to inadequate
inspections of manufacturers, a dearth of scientists who understand emerging new science and technologies,
an inability to speed the development of new therapies, an import system that is badly broken and a
food supply that grows riskier each year. The panel also noted that the agency’s information
infrastructure lacked adequate cyber security functions to protect data. “These estimates show
that the president’s budget has completely missed the mark in terms of what is truly needed to
protect Americans,” said John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the committee. To see more, go to: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr211.shtml.
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Social Security Offers Positions to 144 ALJs
The Social Security Administration on Feb. 26 announced it was beginning to hire a new round of 144
Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) that the agency said it hopes will reduce the backlog of pending disability
cases. The new ALJs will be brought on board in phases, with the first hires reporting for duty in
April, when they will begin an intensive orientation and training program, the agency said in a statement.
While initially handling a reduced docket, newly hired ALJs should be scheduling a full docket of cases
by the end of the year, the agency said. The agency expects to hire a total of 175 new ALJs this fiscal
year. Due to litigation and budget cuts, the agency has about 10 percent fewer ALJs than it did a decade
ago. During that same time, the number of cases waiting for a hearing decision has more than doubled,
the agency said. “The hiring of these new ALJs is a critical step in our plan to reduce the
backlog of disability cases,” said Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue. To see more,
go to: www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/ALJ-hiringpr.htm.
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Free VA Health Care for Combat Vets Extended
Military veterans who have served in combat since Nov. 11, 1998—including veterans of the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan—now are eligible for five years of free medical care through Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. This measure increases the previous two-year limit and applies
to most conditions, VA said in a Feb. 26 statement. The new provision, part of the National Defense
Authorization Act recently signed by President Bush, applies to care in a VA hospital, outpatient clinic
or nursing home. It also extends VA dental benefits—previously limited to 90 days after discharge
for most veterans—to 180 days. The five-year deadline has no effect upon veterans with medical
conditions related to their military service—vets may apply at any time after their discharge
for medical care for service-connected health problems. The five-year window also is open to activated
reservists and members of the National Guard if they served in a theater of combat operations, VA said. “By
their service and their sacrifice, America’s newest combat veterans have earned this special
eligibility period for VA’s world-class health care,” said VA Secretary James Peake. To
see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1454.
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