Trent Lott: “this is the second time this week I have been blocked from trying to move to consideration of critical FDA reform…”

“this is the second time this week I have been blocked from trying to move to consideration of critical FDA reform legislation. This bill, the FDA Modernization and Accountability Act, would ensure that patients and consumers have prompt access to safe and effective products, including prescription drugs, medical devices, and foods. It would streamline the FDA bureaucracy, which has spun dangerously out of control in recent years. And, it would reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. I am greatly disappointed that this bill is being held hostage by a small number of Senators. This legislation enjoys strong bipartisan support. It passed the Labor Committee by a bipartisan vote of 14 to 4. Since the bill passed committee on June 18, supporters of FDA reform have tried repeatedly to address the concerns of these four opponents. In fact, supporters of reform have made an additional 30 concessions in the bill since it was reported from committee. Cosponsors of the bill, Democrat and Republican alike, met with Senator Kennedy this morning in a last ditch effort to convince him to let the bill go forward. Despite the bill's strong bipartisan support and despite these additional compromises, he refused. This legislation is too important to be held hostage. As such, I intend to bring the committee-passed FDA reform bill to the floor in September.”