Bill Clinton: “I rise to mark the passage on the Senate floor of a bill, S. 650, that will assure the safety and efficacy of medicines…”

“I rise to mark the passage on the Senate floor of a bill, S. 650, that will assure the safety and efficacy of medicines for children, and address a problem that pediatricians, parents, and children's advocates have worked on for decades. A great deal of work went into this bill. So many hardworking, dedicated Senators made the effort on a bipartisan basis to come together around this important issue. In particular I want to thank Senators DeWine, Dodd, Gregg, and Kennedy. Senators DeWine and Dodd and I now have worked on pediatric research for many years, and we will continue to be around to work on behalf of children, who, without dedicated advocates like Senators DeWine and Dodd, would not have a political voice. Today, we pass legislation to clarify that FDA authority to assure safe, effective medicines for children is exactly what we intend. This bill was the product of compromise.”