Gone are the Federal Common Core mandate.

I believe we need a wide range of stakeholders, including advocacy organizations that give voice to students.

The Every Student Succeeds Act very clearly changed the way the Department of Education does business.

I think it's been mentioned several times that this is a civil rights law, and I think it is important to all of us to uphold the legacy of that.

The president has reiterated his support for a precision medicine initiative.

The House has completed its work on the 21st Century Cures Act.

It's urgent that the Senate finish its work and turn into law these ideas that will help virtually every American.

This is a complex problem that calls for action by all those who have a role in it.

The truth is it affects all of our States.

Last month, the president signed into law the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, which came out of this committee.

I hope you'll agree that drugs are--that your job is to see that drugs are safe and effective, but the FDA can help market lower drug prices by approving generic drugs and other products as quickly as it possibly can so there's more choice…

Another critical priority is ensuring the FDA always puts science over politics.

If you're confirmed to lead the Food and Drug Administration as its Commissioner, you will be in charge of steering the agency responsible for the safety and effectiveness of our Nation's medical products and protecting our country's food…

I appreciate the question. The primary reason is really that each individual medical product is different.

Will you take a look at the FDA's policy of issuing non-guidance documents instead of rulemaking?

I believe the next FDA Commissioner has an important role to play in ensuring all patients and families have access to the prescription drugs they need.

Women and families have to be able to trust the FDA not to play politics with their health.

We are not the national school board. This is something that should be left to local choice.

You did what we asked in that you made specific recommendations, 36 of them, for Congress, some for the Department of Energy and the administration to consider.

I think it is important to acknowledge that every other country in the world would give their right arm to have these 17 labs as an engine of economic growth and national defense.

I think that is the right level of oversight on such an important aspect.

Thank you, Senator Coons.

I am correct, am I not, that of the 17 laboratories, it is the only one that is not run by the model of hiring a company who is a contractor to manage the laboratory?

Both Senator Feinstein and I, regardless of which one of us was chairman of this committee, have supported strong funding for the Office of Science and for basic research.

I thought it was interesting--Senator Coons' comments.