The Senate today by unanimous consent confirmed Jane Henney as the new head of the Food and Drug Administration.
Senate Majority Whip Don Nickles, R-Okla., Tuesday withdrew his hold on Henney's nomination, clearing the biggest hurdle in the path toward her approval.
Nickles sanctioned Henney's nomination after receiving assurances in writing from Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala that the administration will not seek to force states to expand their coverage of abortion. In addition, Nickles obtained a letter from Henney stating that, as FDA commissioner, she would not solicit a product application from a manufacturer for the abortion drug RU-486.
Administration officials have sought to assure Nickles that Henney was not involved in the agency's review of RU-486 nor the agency's creation of the tobacco regulations, which Nickles views as an attempt to legislate by regulatory fiat.
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