FDA Ignores Congress & Lets Drug Companies Off the Hook

[Guest guest]

February 6, 2008FDA Lets Drug Companies Off The HookDear Charles,Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new rule which directly contradicts legislation passed just last September by Congress to make our drugs safer. When Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) it made sure that it was the responsibility of the drug manufacturer to update drug labels to warn consumers of possible side effects and dangers. Congress was clear that it intended to keep the burden squarely on drug companies to update warning labels. In fact, the drug companies fought and lobbied hard to include language to loosen warning label obligations. But Congress specifically left it out of the final bill. Since the drug companies couldn’t get Congress to agree to lessen their responsibilities towards consumers, they turned to the Bush Administration bureaucrats -- and they succeededTell Congress To Investigate The FDA’s Bureaucratic ActivismBecause of the FDA, drug companies will enjoy more relaxed labeling requirements and will surely use the rule to claim immunity for failing to warn patients, like you, of potential drug hazards.Unfortunately, these tactics are not new to Bush Administration bureaucrats. Unelected federal agencies have been ignoring Congress in a number of other cases. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and others are also engaging in this tactic of Bureaucratic Activism. How can we make sure that our elected officials have the final say and not some Bush appointee? Congress must initiate hearings immediately to protect the public. And we must let them know that we expect it!Tell Congress To Investigate The FDA’s Bureaucratic ActivismJoin me in telling Congress how we can put an end to this Bureaucratic Activism!Thank you, Sean Peter FlahertyPeople Over Profits Campaign TeamIf you would like to from this newsletter, please reply to this message with "Remove" in the subject line.