"Senate plans confirmation hearing for FDA head"
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The US Senate's confirmation hearing for President Clinton's nominee to become the next FDA commissioner, Dr Jane Henney, is tentatively scheduled for September 1. Senator James Jeffords has sent Dr Henney a 26-page letter questioning her on her views on virtually every controversial issue faced by the FDA in recent years and her intentions if confirmed as commissioner. Most of the 140 questions concern the implementation of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act, approved last year. Senator Jeffords chairs the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee which will hold the hearing. He said the questions would "serve as an early indicator" of what Dr Henney can expect to face at the hearing itself. She was asked to respond by August 20.