WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) as a Legislator of the Year for 2013-2014. Senator Pryor receives the award in conjunction with today’s BIO Legislative Day Fly-In.
“As Chairman of the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ve fought hard to secure funding for programs that will help fuel new discoveries, support our families, grow our economy, and create jobs,” Pryor said. “I appreciate the Biotechnology Industry Organization for selecting me as Legislator of the Year. I look forward to working with them and others to continue to move our nation forward.”
"Through his important work on the full Appropriations Committee, Senator Pryor has championed public policy on a number of critically important issues, including responsible funding for the FDA, and the release of sequestered FDA user fees,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “Thanks to his leadership, American doctors and scientists are better able to translate innovative research into new cures and treatments for debilitating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS, and provide cutting-edge technologies to improve crop yields, and discover cleaner forms of home-grown energy.”
“As Chairman of the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Pryor has provided thoughtful and responsive leadership on issues vitally important to our nation,” said Greenwood. “As a champion of America’s biotechnology industry, he has helped to protect funding for programs essential to the survival of biotechnology companies, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs they provide, across the United States.”
More than 250 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, adequate reimbursement for vital therapies under Medicare, FDA funding, tax policy, and capital formation issues relevant to biotechnology companies.
Photos of the award presentation are available upon request.
About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling “innovations transforming our world” and the BIO Newsletter is the organization’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO
IP Counsels Committee Conference
April 23-25, 2014
Palm
Springs, CA
World
Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
May 12-15, 2014
Philadelphia,
PA
BIO
International Convention
June 23-26, 2014
San Diego, CA
Livestock
Biotech Summit
September 16-18, 2014
Sioux Falls, SD
