In progress: Rep. James Comer holds hearing on FDA Thursday

This story will be updated.  Politico Pulse reports:

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) is expected to criticize the Food and Drug Administration for “failing to do the bare minimum to carry out its core mission” under the Biden administration at a hearing today featuring testimony from Commissioner Robert Califf.

According to excerpts from his prepared remarks, the House Oversight Committee chair will say the agency “appears consistently unprepared for crises,” naming the infant formula recall that spurred a nationwide shortage and persistent shortages of drugs to treat cancer and infections. He’ll point to Republican points of contention — telework policies and the Inflation Reduction Act — as sources behind the issues.

Comer also will take the FDA to task for not acting sooner to start the process of pulling from the market an over-the-counter decongestant shown to be ineffective when taken orally.

Democrats’ response: Ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is expected to say that it’s “crucial” for the agency to continue its mission “based on sound science and not conspiracy theories or ideological beliefs.”

“Public attacks on FDA undermine its ability to effectively protect public health,” according to excerpts from Raskin’s prepared remarks.