Deputy Commissioner's Message
I present to you the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Annual Financial Report for fiscal year (FY) 2002. I am pleased to report that FDA has earned its fifth consecutive "clean" opinion on its audited financial statements. By comparing the fiscal information from these statements with the summary performance information reported under the Government Performance and Results Act, FDA is able to demonstrate how this investment yields valuable results.
After the events of September 11, 2001, protecting our homeland has become more important than ever before. As the nation's foremost consumer safety organization, FDA strives to assure a safe food supply through critical science-based prevention strategies; ensures medical product safety and their use by millions of Americans; brings safe and effective new technologies to a world-wide market; and monitors emerging hazards through surveillance systems and monitors about eight million import shipments that enter the United States. Additional FY 2002 resources allowed FDA to facilitate the availability of new bioterrorism tools accelerating the availability of medical products necessary for public health preparedness and to strengthen its surveillance, investigational, and laboratory support for detection and management of product contamination for foods, medical products, and blood.
The President's Management Agenda (PMA) lays out the framework for an effective Federal government that is citizen centered and results-oriented. During FY 2002, FDA made progress in accomplishing the PMA and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretarial goal of becoming "one HHS." The PMA includes five government-wide initiatives: Strategic Management of Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, Improved Financial Performance, Expanded Electronic Government, and Budget and Performance Integration.
The Secretary is promoting changes to consolidate, streamline, and standardize administrative programs throughout DHHS. In line with his plan, in FY 2002, FDA took the first steps toward consolidating its administrative functions. A few FDA PMA activities include the first phase of de-layering the organization; the development of plans to implement a new financial system in conjunction with the DHHS initiative; the study of the creation of a "shared service" organization; and continued preparation for the consolidation of the agency at the White Oak Federal Center.
The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires that I, as the Agency Head, give an assertion on the information in this report. So, as acting Agency Head, I assert that the financial information in this report is complete and reliable, based on data in FDA's financial information systems, and is reported in conformance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Further, it has been deemed to "fairly represent" the financial condition and results of operation of the Agency by the Department's Office of Inspector General. For program performance information, the FY 2003 Performance Plans and Reports of HHS components will include descriptions of the means HHS programs use to verify and validate performance data and related data issues, including the completeness and reliability of the data. Where required, the programs have included discussions of actions planned and completed to improve the completeness and reliability of data.
I welcome your interest in FDA and its programs. In these challenging and uncertain times, taxpayers can be assured that FDA stands ready to protect the health and well being of all Americans.
Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D.
