Don Nickles: “The concluding sentence of her letter says: If I am confirmed as Commissioner, I would not solicit a manufacturer for…”

“The concluding sentence of her letter says: If I am confirmed as Commissioner, I would not solicit a manufacturer for RU-486. She also says: As a general matter, I believe the Agency should only solicit product applications in extraordinary circumstances in which there is a clear public health need. Certainly trying to recruit a manufacturer and provider of abortion drugs doesn't fit in that category, and I appreciate her statement she will not solicit a manufacturer of RU-486. It bothers me that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and this Clinton administration have done so much to circumvent the process, to use FDA in the process. I think it is politicizing an agency that is supposed to be focused on its mission to protect the public health and to expeditiously review drugs and medical devices that will save and extend life. Mr. President, I also met with Secretary Shalala a couple of times and wanted assurances from her that the Department of Health and Human Services would interpret the law as written, would enforce the law as written and not try to rewrite it. Unfortunately, we found out that the Department of Health and Human Services was trying to redefine the Hyde amendment which Congress defined. They were trying to redefine it to broaden the exceptions. The Hyde amendment, as most of my colleagues know, says we will not have Federal funding for abortion except for in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.”