Senate removes roadblocks to vote on FDA nominee Califf

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.

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