Arlen Specter: “I urge the confirmation of Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Von…”

“I urge the confirmation of Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Von Eschenbach is a native Philadelphian. He has had a very distinguished professional record. He has served as the director of the National Cancer Institute. He has made a commitment publicly to lead the way to conquer cancer by the year 2015. Frankly, that is not good enough for me. I think we ought to do it sooner. In 1970, President Nixon declared war on cancer. Had we pursued that war with the same diligence we have pursued other wars, many people would not have died and many people would not have contracted cancer. Dr. Von Eschenbach has done an outstanding job in his professional career, and he would make an excellent Commissioner of the FDA.”