Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Faces Criticism Over Lack Of Action On Youth Vaping Epidemic
Stat: Key Democrats Slam FDA For Failing To Crack Down On Juul
Congressional Democrats openly pressured acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock to crack down on e-cigarette manufacturers Wednesday, with one powerful lawmaker blasting the agency for what they say is inaction on the issue. “Who is the cop on the beat to whom we entrust our children? It’s the Food and Drug Administration. And this agency has been timid and reluctant for way too long,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second most powerful Democrat in the Senate, who was testifying before the House hearing as a witness. “I worry the agency is going to fail again.” (Florko, 6/23)
Bloomberg: FDA Chief Ties E-Cigarette Maker To Youth Vaping Epidemic
The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested at a congressional hearing that e-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc. has played a significant role in creating a youth vaping epidemic. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock was asked at a Wednesday hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy if Juul was “the e-cigarette company most responsible for creating this epidemic.” (Torrence, 6/23)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
Fox News: HHS Should Reinstate Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Board, 37 Senators And 100 Reps Demand In Letter
Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker and two of his House Republican colleagues are leading a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding the Cabinet secretary reverse his decision to nix the National Institute of Health (NIH) ethics board overseeing human fetal tissue research. Wicker, alongside Missouri Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler, are leading more than 100 other Republicans in a letter to Becerra expressing their concern of the HHS secretary cutting the NIH's Human Fetal Tissue Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) as well as the reversal of a department policy "prohibiting funding for intramural research using human fetal tissue." (Keene, 6/23)
The Hill: Senate Democrats Call For FDA Action On High Levels Of Heavy Metals In Some Baby Food
A group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step up efforts to eliminate toxic heavy metals that have been reported in some baby foods. Klobuchar, along with Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.), made the request in a Thursday letter to acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock that was shared with The Hill. (Castronuovo, 6/24)
Politico: Senators Say A Deal With The White House Is In Hand On Infrastructure
A group of bipartisan senators said Wednesday evening that they had agreed with the White House on a framework for an infrastructure package and will brief President Joe Biden in person Thursday on the details. “I’m optimistic that we’ve had a breakthrough," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) after the latest in a series of huddles with White House aides. (Mintz, 6/23)
Axios: Border Democrats Want Migrants Vaccinated
Some Democrats representing border districts want President Biden to vaccinate migrants crossing into the U.S. — especially if he lifts public health restrictions that have prevented them from claiming asylum on American soil. Inoculating migrants treads a fine line of protecting the U.S. population while possibly incentivizing more migration with the offer of free COVID-19 vaccines. Republicans are likely to pounce on that. (Nichols, 6/23)
