BIO Names Sen. Arlen Specter a Legislator of the Year
“The biotechnology industry owes a significant part of our legislative success on Capitol Hill to the support of Senator Specter,” said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum.
“He is a courageous leader, fearless in his support for responsible research involving stem cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer. In January, he co-sponsored a bill that would ban reproductive cloning while allowing therapeutic applications to advance.
“As chairman and now ranking minority member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services and Education, Senator Specter was also instrumental in securing greatly increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, a cornerstone of biotech research. Under his tenure, Pennsylvania has become home to a thriving biotechnology industry. Philadelphia will host BIO’s 2005 annual meeting,” added Feldbaum.
More than 230 congressional meetings with more than 160 industry representatives were held on Capitol Hill today, during BIO’s annual Legislative Day event. Participants discussed critical biotechnology issues, including the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, Medicare reform, prescription drug coverage, and reducing trade barriers for American farmers.
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
# # #