WASHINGTON, D.C. –Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), issued the following statement today following the release of the federal government’s fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations legislation: “AdvaMed applauds the FY 2014 appropriations omnibus legislation for restoring $85 million in industry-provided user fees that were lost to FDA in FY 2013 due to the sequester. “AdvaMed also supports the additional funding for FDA in the FY 2014 omnibus, which provides the agency with $91 million above FY 2013 enacted funding levels.  These added funds increase FDA’s budget above pre-sequestration levels and will help the agency continue to fulfil its mission to promote and protect the public health. “We would like to thank Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Reps. Robert Alderholt (R-Ala.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) for their leadership on this issue and for ensuring FDA has full access to the user fee funds provided by industry. “We have long maintained that user fees paid by industry to FDA should not be treated the same way as taxpayer appropriated dollars.  User fees are part of an agreement between industry, FDA and Congress under which industry agrees to supplement FDA’s appropriated budget, and the agency agrees to performance commitments designed to increase the efficiency and predictability of the review process.  Restoring these user fee funds upholds that agreement. “We look forward to working with Congress to permanently remove industry-paid FDA user fees from sequestration in the future.” ### 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. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.