Posted: May 31st, 2012 - 12:58pm
Source: Reuters

The U.S. Senate on Thursday showed near-unanimous support for a bill that helps fund the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a regulatory powerhouse with sweeping influence over the foods Americans eat and the medicines they take.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 96 to 1, aims to speed approval of new drugs and devices and ensure food safety.
Similar legislation has passed a U.S. House of Representatives committee with bipartisan support and may move to the full House for a vote as early as next week.
In a rare show of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, Senate leaders sped the bill through the Democratic-controlled chamber, emphasizing its importance in protecting consumer safety and promoting innovation in medicine.