Crowley, Maloney and Wasserman Schultz Send Letter from House Dems to Clinton and Murray in Support of Hold on Crawford Nomination

Crowley, Maloney and Wasserman Schultz Send Letter from House Dems to Clinton and Murray in Support of Hold on Crawford Nomination

Today Congressman Joseph Crowley (NY-07), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) sent a letter to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) with the signatures of 33 House Democrats in support of the Senators efforts to put a hold on the nomination of Lester Crawford to the position of FDA Commissioner.

"Allowing over-the-counter access to Plan-B emergency contraception was overwhelmingly supported in a 23-4 vote of an FDA advisory panel, yet, it was denied by Bush Administration officials who placed politics above the health care of women and good science," said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. "Unless Mr. Crawford's role in this decision to halt women's access to this medication is made clear, we should not consider him as FDA Commissioner," said Wasserman Schultz.

"I am pleased that members of the House of Representatives are standing with us in this effort. As I have repeatedly stated, our request is simple and straightforward. After almost two years of waiting, the American people deserve a decision -- yes or no," said Senator Clinton. "Unfortunately, Dr. Crawford's record has demonstrated that he cannot provide assurances that the FDA will make science, not ideology or other interests, the cornerstone of its decision making."

"Mr. Crawford may be an excellent veterinarian, but unwanted pregnancy can't be dealt with by spaying and neutering. It is time to put politics aside and focus on the tremendous potential of Plan B to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. I applaud the leadership and commitment to women's rights exhibited by my friends and colleagues Senator Clinton and Senator Murray. This letter clearly shows that we stand beside our Senate colleagues in this fight," commented Crowley.

"American consumers demand an independent FDA and American women deserve direct access to safe and effective treatments. I fear that the case of Plan B highlights a leadership problem at FDA - a leadership that can be biased or open to undue influence," Senator Murray said. "I applaud the announcement by members of the House of Representatives that they are committed to standing up for their constituents by insisting on an independent leader to head FDA," commented Murray.

"Since the president won't even say if he supports birth control, it is important for Senators Clinton and Murray to keep his feet to the fire on emergency contraception," said Maloney.

Although the FDA's Advisory Panel voted in overwhelming support (by a vote of 23-4) of permitting over-the-counter sales of Plan B in 2003, a decision has still not been made. On June 15th, Senator Clinton and Senator Murray placed a hold on the nomination of Mr. Crawford to head the agency after they determined that he had failed to provide answers on the delays in the process. The hold will remain in effect until the FDA issues a yes or no decision on the over-the counter application of Plan B emergency contraception.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/fl20_schultz/FDACrawfordletter.html