Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Nominee Advances Through Committee, But Concerns Over How He'd Handle Vaping Epidemic Linger
Senate lawmakers on Tuesday moved one step closer to confirming President Donald Trump鈥檚 nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, the agency responsible for combating a recent wave of underage vaping. The Senate鈥檚 health committee voted 18-5 to advance the nomination of Dr. Stephen Hahn, a cancer specialist and medical executive at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Several Democrats opposed Hahn for the role, worrying he would not be tough enough tackling the vaping problem among teenagers. (12/3)
Dr. Hahn, chief medical executive at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, was nominated by President Trump last month to replace Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who left the job in April. Dr. Norman E. Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, had served as acting commissioner from April to Nov. 1. Although Dr. Sharpless was endorsed by four former F.D.A. commissioners and dozens of patient advocacy groups, he had donated to Democrats, which seemed to weigh heavily against him. Dr. Hahn has donated to Republicans, but not to the president鈥檚 campaign. (Kaplan, 12/3)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the panel鈥檚 ranking Democrat, voted against Hahn, saying during his confirmation hearing last month he had 鈥渞efused to commit to implementing a strong policy to clear nontobacco e-cigarettes鈥 from the market 鈥 a step President Trump promised in September but has not finalized. Other Democrats split, with some voting for Hahn鈥檚 confirmation and others voting against him. (McGinley, 12/3)
The full Senate is expected to vote on Dr. Hahn鈥檚 nomination before the end of December, said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.), chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. (Burton, 12/3)
President Trump's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared a key Senate panel Tuesday with聽bipartisan support.聽If confirmed by the full Senate, cancer doctor and researcher Stephen Hahn would join the聽FDA at a challenging time: The agency is facing pressure from all sides on how to curb youth vaping rates, with some pushing for a ban on flavored e-cigarette products.聽(Hellmann, 12/3)
