WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today said that Dr. Scott Gottlieb, nominee to become Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a strong choice to lead FDA. In Gottlieb’s nomination hearing before the HELP Committee, Roberts questioned Gottlieb on FDA’s role in ensuring food safety and more effective nutrition policies.

“Dr. Gottlieb has the right background for the job,” said Roberts. “He is a practicing physician who knows the inner workings of the agency well from his previous service at FDA as well as working with thought leaders and industry partners to nudge the agency to improve and be more innovative. Dr. Gottlieb has been nominated to lead an important agency at a critical time. Congress just last year showed its commitment to improving medical research and innovation by passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which made important reforms to FDA that Dr. Gottlieb will be responsible for implementing if confirmed.”

Speaking before the HELP Committee, Roberts highlighted the needs for coordination between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FDA to protect our nation’s food supply, the core mission of FDA. Roberts said, “I have concerns that the agency has not prioritized FDA’s mission to protect our nation’s food supply. FDA has instead focused on nutrition policies. How will you focus on core FDA duties, such as implementing the law that Congress passed, rather than agenda-driven nutrition policy guidance – as we saw with sodium and added-sugars?”

Roberts then asked Gottlieb about costly, unclear nutrition labeling compliance standards and how he can work to synchronize label changes to limit confusion among consumers.

To watch the full exchange between Roberts and Gottlieb, click here.