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STATEMENT BY SENATOR KENNEDY ON THE NOMINATION OF DR. VON ESCHENBACH TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION


The FDA is responsible for assuring the safety of the food we eat, and the medicines we rely on to keep us healthy. An FDA Commissioner must have the vision to lead, the competence to make crucial public health decisions, and the integrity to keep FDA’s decisions free from political manipulation. I look forward to a careful evaluation of Dr. von Eschenbach’s qualifications in these areas, and to a thorough examination of his capacity to see that FDA once again sets the standard for quality, sound science, and integrity. That being said, I expect the Administration will have to address the Plan B issue fair and square before he can be confirmed. ###