Barbara Mikulski: “As a member of the HELP Committee and someone who was an active participant in shaping this legislation, I rise to let…”

“As a member of the HELP Committee and someone who was an active participant in shaping this legislation, I rise to let everyone know it is very important that we pass this bill. This legislation is perhaps one of the most important bills in more than a decade to improve drug safety. I am very distressed that for a variety of ideological reasons, this bill is being impeded. Yet drug safety should not be impeded. Drug safety is one of the most important issues we face. The recent testimony of two former FDA commissioners--one appointed by a Republican, Dr. Mark McClellan, and the other appointed by a Democrat, Dr. David Kessler--discussed the need for this legislation as one of the most important items to come before the Senate. Congress has a unique opportunity to change the way we monitor the safety of drugs. We can't afford to miss this chance. We owe it to consumers, physicians, and patients, who rely on FDA to be the gold standard, to pass this legislation. This is about protecting the American people. There are countries all over the world that can't afford an FDA so they look to us to see what drugs are approved. I have long been a supporter of the Food and Drug Administration. It is in my State, and I am very proud of it. I have fought hard for the employees at the FDA; for the resources to maintain the mission of the FDA. Through the years we have done a variety of things to improve FDA but nothing as important as this bill.”