WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2018): Today, it was announced that U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-D) has died. In response, the following statement was released by Dr. Lance B. Price, director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center and professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University:
We are deeply saddened by the death of Rep. Louise Slaughter. She was a stalwart champion of many issues important to the American people. We knew her best through her commitment to fighting the growing public health crisis of antibiotic resistance.
As the only microbiologist in Congress, Rep Slaughter understood that all uses of antibiotics decrease their effectiveness over time and, as a result advocated for policies to reduce unnecessary uses. She was particularly passionate about ending the misuse of antibiotics in food animal production. It was her commitment to this issue that led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, after almost 30 years of inaction, to take steps to rein in some of the most egregious uses of antibiotics in animal agriculture. Her leadership will be greatly missed. We are honored to have worked so closely with her and her staff.