James M. Jeffords: “I want to most sincerely thank my colleagues for the tremendous vote to move forward on FDA reform. This is most…”

“I want to most sincerely thank my colleagues for the tremendous vote to move forward on FDA reform. This is most rewarding. All of the proponents and supporters are pleased to know that we can go forward at this time. This is a tribute to a lot of hard work and compromise from a lot of Members on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the issue. The vote represents the best of bipartisanship from Senators who support it, and even from opponents and the administration. Today is just the first step, but it could hardly be a better one. We will need to debate this bill, consider amendments to it and, no doubt, improve it. I believe that there are still changes that can be made to accommodate the concerns that have been expressed here by the opponents. I know we can find solutions to those. We will need to debate this bill, consider amendments and, as I say, no doubt, improve it. But I hope by this time next week, the Senate will have given its resounding support to this bill. It is too important to the American people to let it languish. It is too important for us not to move it out as quickly as possible.”