Senate approves Crawford to be permanent FDA chief

WASHINGTON -- The US Senate by a wide margin yesterday approved Lester Crawford as permanent commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in a roll call vote that came after pointed criticism of the agency's lapses during his tenure.

US Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, said Crawford contributed to a troubled culture that muzzled internal critics and shook the confidence of Americans through drug safety controversies, including the withdrawal last fall of the painkiller Vioxx.

US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, said Vioxx was ''not the failure of Dr. Crawford." Kennedy said the FDA has lacked sufficient authority and funding to do its work.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said he was pleased by the confirmation, which came on a 78 to 16 vote, and called Crawford ''a dedicated public servant who has ably led" the FDA.

On Feb. 14, President Bush said Crawford, the agency's acting commissioner since March 2004, had his support as permanent FDA leader. But the nomination was marred by controversy, including allegations that Crawford improperly promoted an employee with whom he had an affair. The disclosure triggered an investigation that did not uphold that accusation but revealed that Crawford was not truthful when investigators asked whether he had coached the employee to help her complete a crucial application.

In addition, Democratic senators Patty Murray of Washington and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York vowed to block the full Senate vote until the FDA ruled on whether the so-called morning-after pill could be sold without prescription. Last week, the agency said it would decide that question by Sept. 1.

Murray and Clinton still voted against Crawford as did senators who endorse easier importation of inexpensive Canadian prescription drugs, such as US Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota.

''I have been continually concerned during Dr. Crawford's tenure that FDA hasn't shown the independence and adherence to science necessary to inspire public confidence," Murray said in a statement. ''As FDA tackles the considerable challenges that lay ahead, there can be no question of the integrity or independence of the commissioner."

Diedtra Henderson can be reached at dhenderson@globe.com.