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Senator Baucus Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 18, 2007) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) as Legislator of the Year for 2006-2007.

“Senator Baucus has been a strong proponent of the biotechnology industry and we are grateful for his leadership as the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He has been a champion of the federal research and development tax credit and recently introduced the Research Competitiveness Act of 2007 (S. 41),” stated BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “Senator Baucus understands the promise of biotechnology to help create a better world. We salute him for supporting public policy that enables our industry to pursue this promise.”

Senator Baucus received the award this morning from Sharon Peterson, Executive Director of Montana BioScience Alliance.

“The Montana BioScience Alliance owes its very beginning to Senator Baucus. At the Economic Development Summit in 2003, Senator Baucus held a breakout group on the Life Science Cluster in Montana. We learned then of the great research going on in the state without a real way to connect. The BioScience Alliance was formed to make that connection,” stated Peterson. “Senator Baucus has been a wonderful ally of the Montana BioScience Alliance members in promoting funds for research and commercialization and in many other ways. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than Senator Baucus and his staff. They ‘get it’ and they work tirelessly to further the biotech industry in Montana and nationwide. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.”

More than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 36 states, including Montana, will participate in more than 275 meetings with key Members of the House and Senate today as part of the BIO Legislative Day event. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the Small Business Innovation Research grant program, patent protection, the 2007 Farm Bill and funding for biofuels.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.  BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology. www.bio.org

 

About the Montana BioScience Alliance

The Montana BioScience Alliance serves as a hub for Montana’s biotechnology companies, entrepreneurs, laboratories, hospitals, clinics and universities to commercialize, grow and sustain globally competitive bioscience companies – ultimately to create high-quality jobs and economic opportunities in Montana. http://www.montanabio.org/

 

Upcoming BIO Events

 

·         BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007
Boston, MA

·         BIO VentureForum-East 2007

June 18-20, 2007

Montreal, Canada

 

·         BIO Mid-America VentureForum 2007  

Sep. 24–26, 2007

Milwaukee, WI

 

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