Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Increase In Research Funding For Potatoes, Forest Products
Bill would improve patient safety by blocking FDA’s proposed rule on Electronic Distribution of Prescribing Information
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which she serves, has approved measures important to Maine’s economy and patient safety. The provisions were included as part of the Fiscal Year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which must now be considered by the full Senate.
“This bill assists our nation’s farmers and growers, provides critical support for research, and makes important nutrition and food security investments,” said Senator Collins. “Maine has a thriving agricultural sector, and this bill provides direction on a range of important issues from wild blueberries, to aquaculture, to forest products and advanced biofuels, as well as increased funding for potato research. By blocking efforts to require the electronic distribution of prescribing information, the bill would also improve patient safety, particularly in rural areas.”
This bill includes provisions important to Maine, such as:
• $650,000 increase in potato research funding. At Senator Collins’ request, the bill includes $2 million for the national potato research program, which is $650,000 more than was provided in the last fiscal year. This research is focused on determining what potato varieties are best suited for farming in the eastern United States, allowing commercial growers to adjust their practices to suit new varieties.
• At the request of Senator Collins, the bill would block the proposed rule to require electronic distribution of prescribing information instead of paper. With approximately 14 million Americans subject to inadequate access or no access to broadband capabilities, the FDA’s proposed rule would have an adverse effect on patient safety. Not only do many Mainers, or residents of other rural states, still live in areas with limited Internet access, but electronic technologies simply are not available at all times due to temporary outages or during the aftermath of a natural disaster. This policy provision secured by Senator Collins would block FDA’s “Electronic Distribution of Prescribing Information for Human Prescription Drugs, Including Biological Products” proposed rule.
• $3.5 million for forest products research. A portion of this funding will support University of Maine research that aims to improve innovation and maintain a sustainable and globally competitive domestic forest products industry.
• Language to ensure that all advanced biofuels are recognized on an energy equivalent basis. As highlighted by Senator Collins during an exchange with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, concerns have been raised that the USDA’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels disadvantages solid based advanced biofuels, including wood pellets used in heating applications. Senator Collins’ new report language would help ensure that any final rule is implemented in a way that is fuel and technology-neutral.
