BIO responds to “unconscionable” attacks on U.S. Capitol

January 7, 2021
Yesterday was an extraordinary day in American history. BIO staff and colleagues who live and work near the U.S. Capitol are safe. Our thoughts are with the families of the four individuals who lost their lives, and with lawmakers and staff, Capitol Police who ushered…
BIO

Yesterday was an extraordinary day in American history. BIO staff and colleagues who live and work near the U.S. Capitol are safe. Our thoughts are with the families of the four individuals who lost their lives, and with lawmakers and staff, Capitol Police who ushered them to safety, and the journalists who risked their lives to report from the scene. Below, we have BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath’s statement on the events, and a lot of news. (625 words, 3 minutes)

 

BIO responds to “unconscionable” attacks on U.S. Capitol

 
 

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), made the following comments in response to yesterday’s violence at the U.S. Capitol: 

Today we watched in horror as angry and unruly mobs attacked the United States Capitol in an effort to overturn the results of a democratically held election.

At BIO, we vigorously supported and encouraged scientists of all sorts to become actively involved in the political process, support their candidates from whichever party, and make their voices heard by voting. In an unprecedented election, millions of voters went to the polls and did just that.

It is simply unconscionable for an angry mob, upset by an election outcome, to try to disenfranchise the votes of millions of Americans simply because their chosen candidate lost. 

As we are staring down a global pandemic, it is now more critical than ever for Congress to return to their important work and join together in a unified front to fight the disease and not each other. The time has come for leaders of both political parties to collectively say enough is enough and return our country to civility and the rule of law. – BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath

 

Health Care News:

Fox News: Amid slow vaccinations, U.S. hospital leaders call for federal help
“Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, president and CEO of the advocacy group Biotechnology Innovation Organization, told MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ co-hosts Tuesday that the U.S. had a national vaccine effort, but that it is lacking a national vaccination effort.” 

STAT News: Operation Warp Speed’s Moncef Slaoui will stay on as a consultant for Biden
“‘I will continue to support as needed, I think we are getting close to the point where my value add is more limited and therefore I’ll expect my activity to decrease gradually after January 21,’ Slaoui told STAT Wednesday during a briefing with reporters.” 

The New York Times: U.S. is blind to contagious new virus variant, scientists warn
“It’s not too late to curb the contagious variant’s spread in the U.S., experts say—but only with a national program for genetic sequencing.”

 

Agriculture and Environment News:  

Future Human: The first pig-to-human organ transplants could happen this year
“Maryland-based United Therapeutics says it plans to begin transplanting organs from genetically modified pigs into people as soon as this year.” 

The New York Times: How Trump tried, but largely failed, to derail America’s top climate report
“The White House repeatedly attempted to thwart [The National Climate Assessment], meant to steer policy for years. Scientists got in the way.”

 
 
 
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President Trump’s Thursday:Facebook and Twitter temporarily locked President Trump's accounts. “Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account,” Twitter said. Several White House staff members have resigned and more are expected to in the coming hours. More than three dozen Democrats are calling for articles of impeachment, reports POLITICO.

President-elect Biden’s Thursday:Biden has selected Judge Merrick Garland to serve as attorney general. With Democratic control of Congress, “Biden will now be able to pursue a more ambitious agenda in certain policy areas—particularly on climate, the courts, and raising the minimum wage,” explains POLITICO.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill:At 3:41 AM, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Congress officially certified the Electoral College results. Yesterday, Jon Ossoff (D) defeated David Perdue (R) in the second U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia, flipping control of Congress to the Democrats, who are planning to “move fast” on COVID-19 relief, reports POLITICO.

 
 
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