BIO Advocacy Begins with Grassroots

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More than 150 biotechnology executives from at least two dozen states are expected to converge on Capitol Hill in April for BIO’s annual Legislative Day Fly-In event. There, they will join BIO staff to articulate the industry’s positions to members of Congress on issues ranging from FDA concerns to tax incentives for biomedical research.

BIO does all the legwork for the congressional meetings, setting up 200 or more with representatives and senators from more than 20 states, as well as meetings with top administration officials. The goal is not just advocacy, but to introduce legislators to the people behind the biotech industry in their home states.

In addition to the Fly-In, BIO also hosts briefings on Capitol Hill and congressional staff tours of biotech facilities. The first 2005 tour is in Hawaii, where developers of biotech plants operate winter test fields.

2004’s tours included facilities in Maryland, New York,Washington state and Puerto Rico. BIO also conducted two “mini” Fly-Ins, bringing to Washington BIO members from Pennsylvania to advocate for tax reform and Massachusetts members to press for reform of the Small Business Innovation Research Grant program (see “Business & Finance” section).

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS

BIO took grassroots efforts to an even higher level in 2004 by hosting events at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. At the Democratic convention in Boston, BIO hosted a policy luncheon at Genzyme, a biotech facility tour of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, a congressional staff dinner and a biotech-themed reception at the Boston Museum of Science. More than 1,000 people attended the reception, including Sen. Edward Kennedy and U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano, both of Massachusetts.

Activities during the Republican convention in New York included a policy luncheon at the Tavern on the Green, a congressional staff dinner and a reception at Nasdaq that drew more than 500 people, including then-Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, and U.S. Reps. Sue Kelly (N.Y.) and Michael Ferguson (N.J.).

OTHER GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES

In 2004, BIO gathered signatures and circulated letters to Congress on tax reform, drug importation, stockoption expensing and SBIR grants. The grassroots team also created a Web-based voter tool that helped BIO members register to vote, learn about candidates and request applications for mail-in voting.

For information on BIO’s grassroots work and upcoming events, visit bio.org.

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