The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a whopping budget of more than two billion dollars for the FDA in 2009. On Thursday (July 17), the committee unanimously passed the markup, which would represent an increase of more than $324 million over the FDA's 2008 budget and the first time the agency's budget would breech the two billion dollar mark.

The FDA budget boost is part of a larger bill, totaling almost $20.5 billion, that also contains provisions for global food assistance, rental assistance for some low-income households, and rural development.

President George Bush has threatened to veto the bill, as it outspends his FY 2009 budget request. "I call on President to reconsider his unwise veto threats," said Appropriations Committee chair Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) during the session. "Now is not the time to cut or eliminate programs that invest in the growth of our nation."

The measure now moves on to the Senate floor. A companion measure is making its way through committee in the House.