Final Vote on Califf for FDA Commissioner
February 15, 2022
The Senate votes on the confirmation of Robert Califf for FDA Commissioner today amid ongoing political turmoil. Although largely divided among party lines, several Republicans are expected to vot for Califf’s nomination. However, the degree of Democrat resistance is yet to be seen, considering that Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).
According to Politico, “Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to do the opposite, sharing the story of a young woman from his home state of West Virginia who died of a fentanyl overdose during the pandemic while isolating after a possible Covid exposure. Manchin said Califf’s past tenure leading the agency showed he wouldn’t take regulators in a new direction on opioid approvals, a point he also made in a Friday USA Today op-ed with Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).”
UPDATE: Califf has been confirmed in a 50-46 vote.
Read more by clicking here.
(Source: Politico, February 15th, 2022)