The U.S. Senate yesterday moved closer to confirming Dr. Robert Califf to lead the FDA, overriding opposition from several senators who had sought to block a vote on the issue.
In a procedural move designed to prevent the opponents from blocking the confirmation indefinitely, the Senate voted 80-6 to limit further debate on the matter to no more than 30 hours, meaning a confirmation vote could take place as early as today.
Opponents included Sens. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who had sought to block the confirmation vote citing disagreements with the FDA’s process for approving opioid painkillers.
“This is the beginning of a long struggle,” Markey said, according to The Hill. “We need the FDA to be a top cop on the beat, not a rubber stamp.”
Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined Markey, Manchin and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in voting against the measure.
Material from Reuters was used in this report.
