Senator Hassan Votes Against Dr. Scott Gottlieb’s Nomination for FDA Commissioner in HELP Committee

Senator Hassan Votes Against Dr. Scott Gottlieb's Nomination for FDA Commissioner in HELP Committee

WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after voting in opposition to the nomination of President Trump's nominee for FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee:

"It is the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration - starting with its Commissioner - to protect consumers and stand up for public health. I am troubled by Dr. Gottlieb's close financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and his record on critical priorities such as addressing the substance misuse crisis and protecting women's health. I am especially concerned about Dr. Gottlieb's connections to a particular company that makes fentanyl products, and about his opposition to the creation of one of the FDA's key tools to combat the substance misuse crisis, risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS), which the agency uses to try to stem the risks associated with certain medications. Additionally, I am concerned about Dr. Gottlieb's role in the Bush Administration's controversial and unscientific delay in approving the emergency contraceptive Plan B for over-the-counter use. I hope that Dr. Gottlieb has learned about these critical priorities throughout the nomination process, and that he proves to be a stronger Commissioner than his record suggests. But I cannot overlook his record and I am not able to support his nomination."

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