Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act
Public Law 101-635 · S. 845 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 28, 1990 · Health
Sponsor: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Cosponsors (15): Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Strom Thurmond,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act - Title I: Consolidated Administrative and Laboratory Facility - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into contracts for the design, construction, and operation of a consolidated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administrative and laboratory facility. Authorizes the Secretary, in carrying out this title, to accept gifts. Authorizes apropriations.
Title II: Recovery and Retention of Fees for FOIA Requests - Amends the FDCA to authorize the Secretary, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to charge fees to recover all reasonable costs incurred in processing Freedom of Information Act requests for records obtained or created under the Act.
Title III: Scientific Review Groups - Authorizes the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to establish such technical and scientific review groups as necessary to carry out the functions of the FDA.
Title IV: Automation of FDA - Directs the Secretary, through the Commissioner, to automate appropriate activities of the FDA to ensure timely review of activities regulated under the FDCA. Authorizes appropriations.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.
- Nov 28, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-635.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 19, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 27, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed until Oct. 27.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Whittaker demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Sharp moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Oct 25, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 1, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Nov 1, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Apr 19, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.