Senate panel approves Dr. Margaret Hamburg to head FDA

Senate panel approves FDA nominee

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel has approved President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the troubled Food and Drug Administration.

The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved Dr. Margaret Hamburg by voice vote, sending her nomination to the full Senate.

Hamburg, 53, is a bioterrorism expert who once served as New York City health commissioner. She says she wants to restore public confidence in the agency by putting science first and running an open and accountable operation.

If confirmed, one of Hamburg’s top priorities would be to improve food safety. She wants to shift from chasing outbreaks after they’ve occurred to preventing them beforehand. The Senate has not scheduled a final vote.