Representative Lance Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year
Washington, D.C. (April 14, 2015) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Representative Leonard Lance (R-NJ) as a Legislator of the Year for 2015. Representative Lance will receive the award this evening in conjunction with BIO’s Legislative Day Fly-In.
“I am honored by this recognition. The 21st century will see cures for some of the world’s most pressing health challenges as long as the biotechnology and life science sector are empowered to innovate,” said Lance after the presentation. “That is part of my mission in Congress, to work to ensure medical advancements and treatments that are being designed by scientists and doctors in New Jersey and across our Nation are delivered to the patients who await their genius. We must work to deliver the tools and resources to public and private industry to spur the research and collaborations that will improve the health of the world.”
“As a champion of America's biotechnology industry, Representative Lance has been a leader on a number of critically important issues, including Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. "We also commend his leadership in introducing the FDA Safety Over Sequestration Act, legislation that protects privately-paid user fees paid to the FDA from any future sequestration. This is an important step in ensuring prompt review of innovative new medicines through an adequately-funded FDA.”
"New Jersey is a leader in biotechnology. Representative Lance has been an invaluable partner to the biotechnology community within our state and the industry at large,” said Debbie Hart, President and CEO of BioNJ. "His leadership on numerous issues of importance to the industry and commitment to meeting with and understanding the needs of individual biotech companies should serve as a model to all his colleagues in the House. On behalf of New Jersey's life sciences industry, we congratulate Representative Lance on receiving this award. It is well deserved."
More than 300 biotechnology industry representatives from over 40 states, representing hundreds of thousands of American workers, will participate in hundreds of meetings with Members of the House and Senate during the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry including, drug development, discovery and delivery reforms, targeting abuses of the U.S. patent system while protecting innovation, providing adequate reimbursement for vital therapies under Medicare, FDA funding, tax policy, support for science-based GMO food labeling solutions and capital formation issues relevant to biotechnology companies.
Photos of the award presentation are available upon request.