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[chillswills37]

08-08-2022 Senate narrowly confirms Robert Califf to head_FDA_over_Manchin_pushback

BP apparently got their boy,
https://nypost.com/2022/02/15/senate-narrowly-confirms-robert-califf-to-head-fda/

Excerpts
He was nominated to the position by the President Biden in November. Califf will be taking over from Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. The agency, which has lacked a permanent leader since Biden took office, has been under fire over the past year for not acting fast enough to approve possibly life-saving vaccines and treatments for the coronavirus.

Califf, a longtime cardiology professor at Duke University, served in the role (FDA Commisioner) for a short 11 months and was replaced by former President Donald Trump at the start of his administration.

The Senate confirmed President Biden’s nominee 50-46, after Califf received opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who argued the doctor bore “a great deal of responsibility” for massive drug overdose deaths that have happened since his last tenure in the position.

While many Democrats supported Califf for the position, he has drawn scrutiny over his past ties to the pharmaceutical industry. In November, Manchin blasted his nomination as an “insult to the many families and individuals who have had their lives changed forever” by opioid addiction.

Democratic Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, as well as independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont joined Manchin in voting against, citing his ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

“I could not support Dr. Califf’s nomination in 2016 and I cannot support it now," Manchin said. "Nothing that Dr. Califf has said or done has led me to believe he will operate the FDA any differently than he did during his previous tenure."

$SIGA
https://nypost.com/2022/02/15/senate-narrowly-confirms-robert-califf-to-head-fda/