Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Califf's FDA Nomination Next Faces Full Senate Vote
Stat: Senate Advances Califf’s FDA Nomination Toward Final Vote
In a dramatically close procedural vote Monday night, the Senate voted 49-45 to advance Robert Califf’s nomination to lead the Food and Drug Administration, virtually guaranteeing he will soon be confirmed as its commissioner. The Senate vote Monday night technically only limits debate on Califf’s confirmation; lawmakers will have to hold another formal floor vote on Califf’s confirmation before he assumes the agency’s top job. That vote is expected later this week. But the procedural vote, known as a cloture vote, generally signals how lawmakers will vote on the nomination itself. (Florko and Cohrs, 2/14)
Roll Call: Senate Sets Up Califf Confirmation Vote With Narrow Procedural Win
Califf faced controversy throughout his nomination process from both parties. The former FDA commissioner had to cut deals with multiple lawmakers ahead of the floor vote, trading policy promises for votes. Several Senate Democrats opposed Califf’s nomination, due to his past ties to the pharmaceutical industry and handling of the opioid crisis when he led the FDA during the tail end of the Obama administration. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut have all publicly said they’ll oppose Califf’s nomination in a final floor vote. (Cohen, 2/14)
The Hill: Biden's FDA Pick Clears Key Senate Hurdle
The final confirmation vote on Robert Califf, which could come as early as Tuesday, is expected to be even closer than the 49-45 vote to invoke cloture. Five Republicans joined with Democrats to invoke cloture and end debate: Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Richard Burr (N.C.), Mitt Romney (Utah), and Roy Blunt (Mo.). ... Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is absent after suffering a stroke, so if all Republicans who oppose Califf are present, Democrats will need one more vote in their favor to confirm. (Weixel, 2/14)
And the first lady is promoting the "cancer moonshot" —
Miami Herald: First Lady Jill Biden Will Visit Miami And Tampa This Week
First lady Jill Biden will travel to Florida on Thursday for a pair of events in Tampa and Miami on Friday as the Biden administration ramps up its “Cancer Moonshot” program. The first lady’s office announced Monday that she will visit the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa-locka as part of her visit to the state. Exact details for the event will be announced in the coming days. Her Florida visit comes after the Biden administration relaunched the Cancer Moonshot. The program aims to reduce the death rate from cancer by 50% over 25 years. (Lowry, 2/14)
In news about the Trump administration —
AP: Dr. Deborah Birx, COVID Adviser Under Trump, Has A Book Deal
Dr. Deborah Birx has a memoir coming out this spring that will focus on her contentious time as White House coronavirus task force coordinator in the administration of President Donald Trump. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced Monday that Birx’s “Silent Invasion: The Untold Story of The Trump Administration, COVID-19, and Preventing the Next Pandemic Before It’s Too Late,” will be published April 26. (Italie, 2/14)
