[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10639-S10640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of MARK MC CLELLAN

  Mr. KENNEDY. Dr. McClellan has an impressive background. He is both

[[Page S10640]]

economist and a physician. He is a member of the President's Council of 
Economic Advisers and he is also a major advisor on health policy to 
the President today. He was an associate professor of economics and 
medicine at Stanford University. He also served as deputy assistant 
secretary in the Department of Treasury. And, best of all, he received 
his medical degree, his doctorate in economics, and his master's degree 
in public health at Harvard and MIT.
  This nomination to a major public health position is long overdue. 
Dr. McClellan has the training, the experience, and the stature to 
serve as the head of the country's most important public health 
regulatory agency--an agency that serves as the gold standard for the 
rest of the world.
  FDA's mission is to protect the public health. Its mission affects 
more than a quarter of every dollar spent in the U.S. economy. The 
products that it regulates--food, drugs, biologics, devices supplements 
and cosmetics--affect public health and safety every day.
  The agency also has a long and distinguished history of serving the 
public interest. It has a proud tradition of promoting the public 
interest ahead of special interests. It is an agency of skilled 
professionals who set high standards and demand excellence from the 
industries it regulates.
  In this time of extraordinary medical breakthroughs and as new 
threats to public health arise, the FDA faces enormous challenges. The 
American people increasingly depend on the FDA to safeguard public 
health. Now is not the time for FDA to retreat from these challenges, 
or surrender its authority over public health.
  Dr. McClellan has been nominated to a position of great 
responsibility. I believe he will make a fine commissioner, one who 
will help lead the agency into the 21st century.

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