Von Eschenbach Nomination Scheduled For Senate HELP Committee Vote
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
Senate Democrats are reviewing the nominee’s answers to their questions from an Aug. 1 hearing.
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The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee has scheduled a vote on the nomination of Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach for the permanent position. Von Eschenbach will be considered along with several other nominations during a markup Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. The former National Cancer Institute head was nominated as FDA acting commissioner by President Bush in September 2005; the President recommended von Eschenbach for the permanent post in March. Like his predecessor Lester Crawford, von Eschenbach's confirmation as head of the agency had been delayed by a hold placed on his nomination by Sens. Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) over FDA's handling of the Plan B Rx-to-OTC switch process. The senators released the hold on von Eschenbach's nomination when the agency approved Barr's emergency contraceptive Aug. 24 for behind-the-pharmacy-counter sale to those ages 18 and over (1 (Also see "Plan B Pioneers OTC “Pharmacy Counter” Approval" - Pink Sheet, 24 Aug, 2006.)). Sen. Murray has not announced whether she will vote for von Eschenbach to head FDA. She is still reviewing the nominee's answers to questions posed to him during an August 1 HELP hearing on his confirmation, according to her office (2 (Also see "Von Eschenbach Defends FDA Action On Plan B During Confirmation Hearing" - Pink Sheet, 1 Aug, 2006.)). Murray received von Eschenbach's answers only recently, a staffer said. - Jessica Lake ([email protected]) |