Congressman Joe Barton honored as BIO Legislator of the Year.

Press Release Summary:



BIO selected Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) as Legislator of the Year for 2009-2010. Citing Barton's station as Ranking Member of House Energy and Commerce Committee, BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood said the congressman "has been a proponent of issues critical to our nation's biotech industry" and that his leadership "ensures that the biotechnology industry can remain a vibrant, research-intensive industry dedicated to providing life-enhancing and life-saving therapies to patients."



Original Press Release:



Representative Barton Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year



WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) as Legislator of the Year for 2009-2010. Representative Barton receives the award at today's BIO Legislative Day Fly-In reception.

"As the Ranking Member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Representative Barton has been a proponent of issues critical to our nation's biotech industry such as the creation of a pathway for the approval of biosimilars that protects patient safety and provides incentives for continued innovation," said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. "Representative Barton's leadership ensures that the biotechnology industry can remain a vibrant, research-intensive industry dedicated to providing life-enhancing and life-saving therapies to patients."

"The life sciences industry provides nearly 80,000 jobs in the state of Texas, which is home to a rapidly expanding biotechnology sector. Representative Barton understands the challenges facing this industry, especially emerging companies, in the current economic environment. We thank him for his outstanding leadership on behalf of the biotechnology industry in Texas and throughout our country," said Thomas Kowalski, President of the Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute.

During the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In, more than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 32 states, including Texas, will participate in hundreds of meetings with key Members of the House and Senate. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including patent reform, NIH/ FDA funding, drug importation risks, and expanded eligibility for Small Business Innovation Research grants.

Upcoming BIO Events

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
June 27-30, 2010
Washington, DC

BIO India
September 21 - 22, 2010
Hyderabad, India

BIO's Livestock Biotechnology Summit
September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 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.

All Topics