WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the fiscal year 2010 Financial Services spending bill includes $138.7 million for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) campus in White Oak, Md. The funding 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.

“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.”

At a May 2008 dedication of the newest FDA building at White Oak, Senator Mikulski vowed to continue her fight for full funding of the agency’s consolidation. Senator Mikulski has fought for more than $842 million in federal funds to support this project. It is expected that the total cost of the consolidation will be $1.1 billion, and this funding will keep the project on track for an anticipated completion in 2012.

“This project has been a top priority for the community and a top priority for me because it means economic development for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and jobs for the people of Maryland,” said Senator Mikulski. “The FDA deserves a world-class facility. I will continue to fight to make sure that the FDA consolidation project receives the funds it needs.”

The spending bill was approved by the full Committee this afternoon. In the next step of the appropriations process, the bill will move to the Senate floor for a vote, which has not yet been scheduled.