WASHINGTON, D.C. - Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed, issued the following statement after the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval today of the FY 2009 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which contains $2.04 billion for FDA, an increase over FY 2008 appropriations of $325 million which includes $40 million for the Center for Devices and Radiological Health:

"AdvaMed commends the Senate Appropriations Committee for providing a significant increase in FDA's medical device program budget for FY 2009. The approved budget mark recognizes FDA's need for adequate resources to continue to fulfill its mission to promote and protect the public health and to oversee the increasingly sophisticated medical technologies that play such a vital role in improving patient care.

"We would like to thank Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-MS), as well as Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT), chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over FDA, for their leadership in supporting increased funding for FDA's medical device program which will help ensure patients continue to have timely access and confidence in the latest advancements in medical technology."
AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Our members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.

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