Senate Proceeding on Dec 7th, 2006 :: 0:08:13 to 0:12:31
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0:01:55 to 0:08:13( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ted Stevens

0:07:58 to 0:08:13( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Stevens: thank you. i rise to discuss the pending nomination of dr. andrew von eschenbach to be the commissioner of food and drugs. the f.d.a. has a very broad and critical mission in protecting our public health.

0:08:13 to 0:08:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: the commissioner of food and drugs is in charge of an agency that regulates $1 trillion worth of products a year. the f.d.a. ensures the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biological products such

0:08:13 to 0:12:31( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael Enzi

0:08:29 to 0:08:45( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: as vaccines, medical devices and animal drugs and feed. let me repeat that again. the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biological products such as vaccines, medical devices, animal drugs and feed.

0:08:45 to 0:08:56( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: it also oversees the safety of a vast variety of food products as well as medical and consumer products, including cosmetics. as commissioner of food and drugs, dr. von eschenbach will be responsible for advancing

0:08:56 to 0:09:12( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: the public health by helping to speed innovations in its mission areas and by helping the public get accurate, science-based information on medicines and foods. dr. von eschenbach has a strong record.

0:09:12 to 0:09:25( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: he's an accomplished scientist, a proven manager and a man with a vision. he's also a cancer survivor and he's brought that per -- perspective and the passion that goes with it to his government

0:09:25 to 0:09:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: services. he gave up a job he loved, directing the national cancer institute, to offer his service, what i believe is a much more challenging and definitely thankless job of leading the f.d.a. the f.d.a. has

0:09:39 to 0:09:51( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: been without a confirmed commissioner for all but 18 months of the last five and a half years. ever see a business that could run for five and a half years without having a boss except for 18 months?

0:09:51 to 0:10:07( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: and that was a tenuous 18 months. i think we can all agree that we need a strong leader at the f.d.a. now and one who has a mandate to act. he needs full authority to bring back the morale of the

0:10:07 to 0:10:17( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: department and to get the job done. we must be forward-looking. there are many items before the f.d.a. that require the immediate attention of the f.d.a. commissioner vested with full authority.

0:10:17 to 0:10:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: but that authority flows directly from the act of senate confirmation. without a senate-confirmed leader, we can't expect the f.d.a. to be as effective as we need it to be. i urge my colleagues to consider

0:10:29 to 0:10:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: this. i know that some of my colleagues on and off the committee are not completely satisfied with their interactions with the f.d.a. during dr. von eschenbach's tenure. some would urge that the f.d.a.

0:10:39 to 0:10:50( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: move quickly on certain matters before it. however, i'm not sure that holding up a nomination over single products or single issues is the right way to achieve faster action. and to ensure that agency

0:10:50 to 0:11:02( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: processes are free from the pressure of politics. in fact, i strongly believe that the opposite would occur. i think this is a position that has more catch-22's than any other position in government.

0:11:02 to 0:11:16( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: i do respect the right of my colleagues to disagree with the president's choice for this position or the policies that a president's nominee might pursue. if our disagreements with the president's choice are

0:11:16 to 0:11:32( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: so strong, we ought to vote against the nominee. but in light of the $1 trillion worth of drugs and products overseen by the f.d.a. and hundreds of drug approvals reviewed every year, i think we would

0:11:32 to 0:11:44( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: be setting a dangerous precedent if any of us hold up the president's choice for f.d.a. commissioner over decisions made srofpg one product or one issue or something extraneous even to the food and drug administration.

0:11:44 to 0:11:53( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: it would be an especially dangerous precedent at this point. we have a lot on our plate with respect to the f.d.a. during the 110th congress. we have to reauthorize both the drug and device user fee

0:11:53 to 0:12:05( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: programs, addressing two expiring pediatric programs and improve our drug safety system. the f.d.a. needs a leader with the backing and the mandate that senate confirmation provides in order to be

0:12:05 to 0:12:20( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: our partner in these efforts. dr. von eschenbach received significant support from the "help" committee. this man could serve patients in many different ways and has offered to serve them by running

0:12:20 to 0:12:31( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Enzi: this critically important agency. i'm talking about a doctor with cancer expertise, management expertise, vision who has agreed -- who has agreed -- to run this agency at what we pay because he wants

0:12:31 to 0:12:43( Edit History Discussion )

Chuck Grassley: to give back to his country. i urge my colleagues who are not on our committee to give dr. von eschenbach a chance to effectively run the f.d.a. with full statutory authority. so i urge my colleagues

0:12:31 to 0:27:46( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Chuck Grassley