BIO Honors Senator Stabenow as Legislator of the Year
Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2014) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today presented Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) the BIO Legislator of the Year award. As Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Stabenow successfully championed reauthorization of Farm Bill energy programs and expanded them to include renewable chemicals.
Senator Stabenow said, “When we make things and grow things in America, we create jobs in America. The Farm Bill strengthens investments in renewable energy and expands support for innovative biobased manufacturers that are using homegrown resources. This new Farm Bill is about the future, and I am honored to receive this award from BIO. I look forward to our continued partnership as we work to expand our emerging biobased industry.”
BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood stated, “Senator Stabenow never relented in her effort to reauthorize the Farm Bill. She led the process with a clear vision to combine America’s agricultural productivity with its strengths in manufacturing and cutting-edge technology, which she laid out at the start by launching the “Grow It Here, Make It Here” initiative. That initiative had a simple premise, that if we use homegrown technology to manufacture products from renewable agricultural resources, we can grow our economy and jobs. The final Farm Bill incorporated the initiative, strengthening the energy programs and expanding them to support companies that make biobased products and renewable chemicals, in addition to advanced biofuels. It is exactly the type of comprehensive policy making that supports long-term innovation and job creation.”
Stephen Rapundalo, President and CEO of MichBio, added, “The successful enactment of the 2014 Farm Bill legislation is a testament to Sen. Stabenow’s strong leadership and tireless commitment. MichBio applauds Sen. Stabenow for being such a vocal advocate of the Michigan and U.S. biobased manufacturing sectors and ensuring that the necessary triggers and resources to drive innovation, business growth and job creation were realized in this important piece of legislation.”
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.
About MichBio
MichBio, headquartered in Ann Arbor, is a non-profit biosciences industry trade association representing more than 600 bioscience companies, universities and academic institutions dedicated to advancing Michigan's bioscience industry. MichBio is the official Michigan affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, BIO, which represents biotechnology companies across America and in 33 other nations.