dr. margaret hamburg is the f.d.a. commissioner, and she joins me now. >> thank you. >> so these are some pretty horrifying images. what's the theory behind them, behind using them? >> well, as you note, smoking is our leading cause of preventible death in this country. it's a pretty horrifying medical and public health problem, and we need to address it aggressively. these graphicmoking health warnings really are designed to help make sure that people are aware of the risks of smoking, that they are encouraged to stop smoking, if they do smoke. and importantly, to discourage people who are just trying a cigarette or two for the first time, from ever taking up this deadly habit. >> is there solid research data showing that a graphic photo image like these is more effective in deterring behavior, than say a very bold text warning like smoking kills or smoking causes cancer? >> well, there is information from the experience of other countries that have already implemented graphic health warning labels, that it does incre

. >> thank you dr. leinen? >> thank you mr. chairman and members of the subcommittee. my name is margaret leinen, the vice chair of the gulf of mexico research initiative research board three by illsley provost for the environmental initiative for the atlantic university and executive director from graphic. my remarks today were prepared by dr. reva call well, chairman of the gulf of mexico research initiative and one of your constituents, senator cardin. may 2010 bp committed $5 million over it in your period to create an independent research program to study the impact of the deepwater horizon oil still on the gulf of mexico. the program known as the gulf of mexico research initiative or gri is directed by an independent research board. the research board is responsible for identifying of the research priorities preparing a request for proposals, enabling an open and transparent process for review selecting proposals for funding based on that review and reviewing annual progress for the continuation of funding. although the gri was announced in 2010, it was not until

. >> thank you dr. leinen? >> thank you mr. chairman and members of the subcommittee. my name is margaret leinen, the vice chair of the gulf of mexico research initiative research board three by illsley provost for the environmental initiative for the atlantic university and executive director from graphic. my remarks today were prepared by dr. reva call well, chairman of the gulf of mexico research initiative and one of your constituents, senator cardin. may 2010 bp committed $5 million over it in your period to create an independent research program to study the impact of the deepwater horizon oil still on the gulf of mexico. the program known as the gulf of mexico research initiative or gri is directed by an independent research board. the research board is responsible for identifying of the research priorities preparing a request for proposals, enabling an open and transparent process for review selecting proposals for funding based on that review and reviewing annual progress for the continuation of funding. although the gri was announced in 2010, it was not until

. >> thank you, dr. boesch. dr. leinen? >> thank you, mr. chairman and members of the subcommittee. i'm pleased -- my name is margaret leinen, i'm the vice chair of the gulf of mexico research initiative research board. i'm also associate provost for marine and environmental initiatives at florida atlantic university and executive director of harbor branch ocean graphic. my remarks today were prepared by dr. rita caldwell, chairman of the gulf of mexico research initiative and one of your constituents, senator cardin. >> yes. >> in may 2010bp committed $500 million over a ten-year period to create an independent research program to study the impacts of the deepwater horizon oil spill on the gulf of mexico. the program known as the gulf of mexico research initiative or gri is directed by an independent research board. the research board is responsible for identifying the research priorities, preparing requests for proposals, enabling an open and transparent process for review, selecting proposals for funding based on that review and reviewing annual progress for a continuation of fun