Dr. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced his intention to step down from his post. President Trump originally appointed him to the position in 2017 at the beginning of his term. Before Dr. Gottlieb departs, I would like to offer my thanks for his service and his notable accomplishments.
I have worked with numerous executive branch officials, but Dr. Gottlieb stands out for his outstanding performance in his job.
As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health matters, I have encountered Dr. Gottlieb frequently, as he has testified before the committee several times.
He consistently made himself available, whether after hearings or by phone, when I wanted to discuss issues that fell under the FDA’s jurisdiction. When those issues required follow-up, he was straightforward about what actions he could take and true to his word about doing them.
Both Republicans and Democrats have found him knowledgeable and accessible, and former Chairman and current Republican Leader of the committee Greg Walden (R-OR) even stated that he “never worked with a more talented, forthright, and effective agency leader than Dr. Scott Gottlieb.”
His leadership style will be missed, but he leaves behind a strong legacy of progress on public health.
The FDA is the agency responsible for approving drugs to be sold on the market. At a time when prescription drug prices impose a hardship on many, Dr. Gottlieb has streamlined the process for approving generic drugs. This step introduces more competition into the drug market and therefore pressures companies to maintain lower prices.
As the opioid crisis hit communities across the country, Dr. Gottlieb cooperated with Congress as we wrote legislation to help turn the tide. As we worked on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act in the Energy and Commerce Committee over the past two years to respond to the crisis, he provided input and suggested tools he could use to fight this scourge.
One facet of the crisis is the availability of prescription opioids liable to be abused, so the FDA has initiated a process to develop evidence-based guidelines that will help health care providers prescribe appropriate, targeted quantities of opioids for their patients’ needs.
Another aspect of the crisis is illegal opioids, and Dr. Gottlieb has focused FDA enforcement against illicit substances, such as Chinese fentanyl, shipped through the mail or sold on the Internet.
As a longtime supporter of “right to try” legislation allowing patients with life-threatening illnesses to attempt experimental treatments, I appreciated Dr. Gottlieb’s insights as we discussed it, and ultimately passed it into law. He also made improvements to the FDA’s expanded access program for investigational drugs, which has a similar aim to “right to try.” Patients facing long odds may have more reason to hope thanks to these actions.
Dr. Gottlieb’s tenure will be noted for its significant achievements to ensure the health and safety of the American people.
Condemning the Attacks in New Zealand
On March 15, Americans awoke to the horrifying news of massacres at two Islamic mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Worshipers attending Friday prayers were the victims of a hate-filled attack. As I write this, 50 people are dead and 50 injured. My prayers are with the people of New Zealand as they face this tragedy.
I have written recently of my concerns about increasing anti-Semitism. The hate that evidently inspired this attack is just as abhorrent. Individuals were targeted simply because of their Islamic faith.
In last week’s column, I referred to the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom that inspired the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty. The statute’s author, Thomas Jefferson, wrote that it was meant to protect “the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan” (as many people in his time referred to Muslims).
Those protections still stand today, and they should guide not just our legal obligations but our moral conduct toward one another. All who respect the law and their neighbors should be free to live in peace while practicing whatever faith they have.
I hope that the Islamic community in Christchurch might find healing and solace. Religious bigotry must not be condoned anywhere.
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to call the Abingdon office at (276)525-1405 or the Christiansburg office at (540)381-5671.
