Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Advances Hamburg’s Nomination as FDA Commissioner

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday voted to approve the nomination of Margaret Hamburg, President Obama's nominee for FDA commissioner, moving consideration of the nomination to the Senate floor, CQ Today reports (Armstrong, CQ Today, 5/13).

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate could vote on Hamburg as early as Thursday (CongressDaily, 5/14). Key Republican senators such as Orrin Hatch (Utah) and ranking HELP committee member Mike Enzi (Wyo.) have pledged their support of Hamburg (CQ Today, 5/13).

If confirmed, one of Hamburg's top priorities will be to improve food safety, according to the AP/Raleigh News & Observer (AP/Raleigh News & Observer, 5/14).