Senator Mike Crapo Named BIO Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 15, 2006) -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has named Senator Mike Crapo (R, ID) as a “Legislator of the Year” for 2005-2006.

“BIO honors Senator Crapo for his leadership as a dedicated champion of agricultural biotechnology, particularly on critical trade issues,” BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood stated.  “We thank Senator Crapo for his continued leadership in opening markets for America's farmers.  He has served not only his constituents in Idaho, but farmers across the nation, by his commitment to ensure that the United States’ trading partners do not use non-science based regulations of biotechnology crops to impede market access of U.S. grains.”

Senator Crapo received the BIO Legislator of the Year award this morning in a meeting with Philip Syrdal, President of BioIdaho, the Idaho Bioscience Association. 

“Senator Crapo has been a steadfast advocate of agriculture and agricultural biotechnology, having served on the Agriculture Committees in the U.S. House and Senate,” stated Philip Syrdal. “We also count on the Senator's experience, support and encouragement for biomedical science as it gains prominence within Idaho.”

More than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 35 states, including Idaho, will participate in nearly 300 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 patent rights, the risk of drug importation, the SBIR grant program, and science-based standards for adventitious presence.

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.

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