Margaret A. Hamburg

Congress has been beneficial in our ability to respond in a number of ways, certainly the supplemental funds that were given for Ebola will make a significant difference.

I think FSMA will be transformational in the sense of saving money and saving lives.

Much remains to be learned about the risks of e-cigarettes to health, as well as their possible benefits, particularly for those smokers who have not been able to quit using deadly conventional cigarettes.

This is one of the most important public health challenges before us.

Congress has given FDA responsibility for a vast range of products that are central to the health and well-being of every American.

The sequester is of significant concern to us, and overlaid on the additional issue of expanding responsibilities, these cuts will come at a cost.

I believe our fiscal year 2014 budget efficiently targets our needs, focusing on programs that are essential to providing Americans with the safe foods and effective medical products they expect and deserve.

We feel there are significant gaps in our authorities that limit and undermine our ability to do all that we want to do to protect the health and safety of the American people.

As I said, we are going to have to make very difficult choices. We are not going to be able to do all the things the Congress has asked us to do and that the American people expect us to do.

We shouldn't have different standards depending on where the test was developed.