CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, JR. Sixth District of New Jersey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Andrew Souvall
October 2, 2008
(202) 225-4671
PALLONE QUESTIONS FDA CONTRACT WITH PR FIRM
Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement in response to news reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a $300,000 no-bid contract to a public relations firm that had ties to the official in charge of awarding the contract.
"If the FDA is really concerned about its public image, it should focus its limited resources on ensuring our food and drug supply is safe. This public relations contract is not a good use of the American taxpayers' money.
"There is a reason the American people have lost confidence in the FDA, and it simply cannot be solved by a questionable no-bid contract with a public relations firm. The American people do not believe the FDA is doing enough to keep their food and drugs safe. Rebuilding that confidence will not come from a public relations campaign, but from the FDA actually doing its job."
