washington u.s. democratic presidential candidate bernie sanders say tuesday place hold president barack obama nominee head food drug administration claim close pharmaceutical industry impartial regulator move u.s. senator vermont come one day democratic senator edward markey massachusetts also place hold nomination agency agree reform process approve opioid painkillers nominee dr. robert califf cardiologist researcher join fda year ago deputy commissioner previously hold senior position duke university found large academic research center receive half fund drug industry dr califf extensive tie pharmaceutical industry give reason believe would make fda work ordinary americans rather ceos pharmaceutical company sanders say statement hold procedure senator prevent measure vote full senate peter pitts former associate commissioner external affairs fda president center medicine public interest say hold ever kill vote fda commissioner expect would undemocratic let senators say say senate committee health education labor pension vote early month confirm califf fda commissioner position open since dr. margaret hamburg step last february kevin griffis spokesman department health human service oversee fda say califf right person right experience build fda unsurpassed record protect public health encourage innovation introduction new life-saving therapies market add would like see confirm quickly possible monday hhs say address opioid crisis top priority markey want opioid approval matter review fda advisory committee believe committee consider risk addiction abuse approval process also want agency rescind approval oxycontin children convene advisory panel guide process sanders say share markey concern fda approach opioid painkillers many americans die become opioid epidemic say statement u.s. deaths drug overdose hit record 2014 increase 6.5 percent 47,055 propel prescription painkiller heroin abuse accord u.s. center disease control prevention fda control drug price sanders say time millions americans afford purchase prescription drug require need leader fda prepare stand drug company last year say one five americans 35 million people could afford fill prescriptions sanders make healthcare key theme campaign democratic party candidate november election compete former secretary state hillary clinton former maryland governor martin malley califf widely expect ultimately confirm fda commissioner think senator sanders hold slow process pitts say califf need meet sanders reassure fda independence pitts say meantime add make point report susan heavey edit david alexander jeffrey benkoe jonathan oatis david gregorio sap sponsor coverage independently produce staff reuters news agency sanders block obama nominee lead fda cite industry tie