Nominee for FDA Commissioner Advances

A Senate committee sent the nomination of Lester Crawford as Food and Drug Administration commissioner to the floor by a voice vote, but committee Chairman Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) said that Crawford faced serious opposition from both sides of the aisle and might not be approved.

After noting that senators from both parties have indicated they intend to hold up Crawford’s nomination over the agency’s failure to rule on several controversial reproductive health issues, Enzi urged his colleagues to keep politics out of the confirmation process.