Joe Lieberman: “It seems to me on the face of it the intention is certainly to cover those health and safety threats. The question is…”

“It seems to me on the face of it the intention is certainly to cover those health and safety threats. The question is whether it is effectively done or comprehensively done, and I would like to work with the Senator. Let me just say that the other day we received the paper flying all over about the Food and Drug Administration comments of the overall bill, and they say as part of their comments: The exemption for likely health or safety threats will not permit the agency to take expeditious action to avert harm. First, the finding of good cause would be imposed in addition to the statutory violation finding that the agency currently is required to make before taking any action, unless the intent is to override the statutory finding. This requirement is burdensome and inappropriate. Second-- And this is something that I have been concerned about-- neither 'significant harm' nor 'likely' is defined. As a result, it is unclear how many situations would fall under this standard.”