Political Quotes

“I rise in opposition to Dr. Califf, and I have spoken before on this. I just want to say this for a minute or two here. I respect everyone's position on this and their decision, but I have never had anything that has affected my State and constituents in my State and our country more than the opioid addiction. This opioid addiction started because of the FDA's decision to bring a product to market in 1995 that has destroyed many families, many communities, many businesses, people's lives forever. In story after story--there is not a Senator in this body who doesn't have someone in their family, immediate family or extended family, or a constituent who hasn't been affected. With that, you need to change the dynamics of the leadership over there. Dr. Califf was there 5 years ago. He is coming back. Nothing has changed. Four hundred thousand people have died since he was there, and we are going down the same path. Unless we change that dynamic, that leadership position on trying to protect the people of America without putting more and more horrible drugs on the market--there was one drug back in, I think it was 2014, 2013 or 2014, called Zohydro, and the advisory committee recommended 11 to 2: Do not bring this drug to market. They did it anyway. It was 11 to 2, don't do it. These are experts. They said two pills can kill a human being. They brought it continuously. They continue to bring more opiates to the market.…”