WASHINGTON, D.C. –
U.S.
Senators Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Budget Committee, and Barbara A. Mikulski, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and
(both-D-Md.) today announced a critical step forward in putting $138.7 million in the federal checkbook for the consolidation of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) campus at White Oak, Maryland.

The funds are included in the Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which was approved Sunday by the Senate for a final time as part of Congress’ Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. The bill now goes to the President to be signed into law.

The federal funds will allow the FDA to continue construction of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the largest remaining lab yet to be built on the campus. This lab will house the FDA scientists who work on bioterrorism defense and antidotes to epidemic diseases, such as bird and swine flu.

The FDA has been working to consolidate offices on the 130-acre site of the former White Oak Naval Surface Warfare Center in Montgomery County for nearly 20 years. Since 1990, Senator Mikulski has worked vigorously in the Senate and the community to consolidate the FDA facilities.

“The FDA consolidation at the White Oak campus will result in significant efficiencies enabling the FDA to better regulate the drug and medical device industries as well as the safety of our food supply,”
Senator Cardin said. “The new FDA consolidation gives us the opportunity to meet the challenges of the future in product safety, global markets and increased consumer demand.”

“We’re making progress one building at a time. But we’re doing more than building buildings, we’re building America’s future,”
Senator Mikulski said. “It’s been a long fight, but we are closer to the finish line. The FDA can count on me to be there every step of the way until these buildings are completed and the agency’s dedicated employees have the resources they need to fulfill their public missions.”