[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING DR. MARGARET HAMBURG

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it is with both sadness and appreciation 
that I recognize Dr. Margaret Hamburg as she leaves her post as 
Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Hamburg has been 
a wonderful colleague and partner during her tenure at FDA. She has a 
collaborative and effective leadership style that has truly improved 
the health, safety, and quality of life here in our country. Over the 
nearly 6 years she has spent as Commissioner, Dr. Hamburg has worked 
tirelessly to ensure that Americans remain healthy and safe for years 
to come.
  Dr. Hamburg has presided over significant milestones, strengthening 
the agency's commitment to science and advancing biomedical innovation. 
The personalized medicine initiative prioritized under her leadership 
has led to more targeted, effective treatments for cancer patients, in 
addition to diagnostic tests that are faster and more accurate--crucial 
factors in tailoring optimal treatment for each particular patient. Dr. 
Hamburg also worked with me and several of my colleagues in launching 
expedited review of ``breakthrough therapies'' to accelerate help for 
patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses. Thanks to her 
efforts, the United States is more competitive and better positioned to 
accommodate the astounding pace of medical innovation as we move 
forward in the 21st century.
  In the area of food safety, Dr. Hamburg's leadership helped to build 
a more modern food protection system that will prevent foodborne 
illness and improve the safety of the food Americans consume for years 
to come. She has also worked with Congress in creating important steps 
to ensure product safety, implementing new standards that will protect 
the American people from the dangers of counterfeit, stolen, 
contaminated, or otherwise harmful drugs.
  These are just a few highlights from Dr. Hamburg's tenure. Dr. 
Hamburg has rendered our country a tremendous service, and I know that 
she will continue to have success in all of her future endeavors. I 
wish her the best of luck.

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