[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HOLD ON FDA COMMISSIONER OVER RU-486

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to comment on Senator Jim 
DeMint's decision to put a hold on Andrew van Eschenbach's nomination 
to head the FDA. This has to do with a drug, an abortifacient called 
RU-486. This drug has been linked to eight deaths, nine life-
threatening incidents and more than 200 hospitalizations.
  The FDA is charged with safeguarding public health, so it only makes 
sense that the FDA Commissioner would support suspension of the drug, 
RU-486, until a full investigation can be completed on its effect on 
women's health. Nine other drugs have been suspended in the past 8 
years that didn't cause a single death, yet this known health threat 
remains on the market as we speak. Madam Speaker, this is nothing less 
than irresponsible, and it is time the FDA exerted some leadership on 
the issue.
  Senator DeMint has acted in the interest of women's health and common 
sense. I thank him for his leadership.

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