[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

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  NOMINATION OF ANDREW VON ESCHENBACH TO BE COMMISSIONER OF FOOD AND 
             DRUGS, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  Mr. FRIST. I ask consent that the Senate proceed to executive session 
for the consideration of Calendar No. 907, the nomination of Andrew von 
Eschenbach, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health 
and Human Services.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach, 
of Texas, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health 
and Human Services.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. FRIST. I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on Executive 
     Calendar No. 907, the nomination of Andrew von Eschenbach, of 
     Texas, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of 
     Health and Human Services.
         William H. Frist, Michael B. Enzi, Richard Burr, Thad 
           Cochran, George V. Voinovich, Robert F. Bennett, Tom 
           Coburn, Norm Coleman, Conrad R. Burns, Jon Kyl, Pat 
           Roberts, Mel Martinez, John Ensign, Lamar Alexander, 
           Elizabeth Dole, Christopher Bond, John Cornyn.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this cloture vote will occur on Thursday 
morning. If we can reach an agreement for a vote at a time certain on 
this FDA nomination, we would vitiate this cloture vote. In the 
meantime, I now ask consent that the mandatory quorum be waived and the 
Senate now resume legislative business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I should add that Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach 
has done a superb job in the position he is currently occupying. It is 
time for the Senate to vote on this outstanding nominee. There are very 
few, if any, people who substantively are opposed to this nomination. 
Thus, I intend to use all the influence that I can to have him as 
Commissioner of FDA before we depart.

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