BIO CEOs, Lawmakers Talk Policy At Legislative Day

WASHINGTON, D.C., (May 15, 2000) - BIO anticipatesrecord-breaking attendance at its Legislative Day here Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16 - 17, with about 150 biotech executives expected to participate.

The annual event provides company executives with anopportunity to discuss policy with federal lawmakers and bring them up to date on the latest advancements in biotechnology. Issues pending before Congress, such as Medicare modernization, drug pricing, H-1B visas, gene patenting and biotech food labeling are critical to the biotech industry.

News media are invited to attend three plenary sessions that willfeature speeches by members of Congress:

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m.in Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.

U.S. Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Bill Frist (R-Tenn.),Wednesday, May 17, at 8 a.m. in the Mansfield Room of the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. Reps. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) and Howard Coble (R-N.C.),Wednesday, May 17, at 11:45 a.m. in the Capitol Hill Club.

BIO represents more than 900 biotech companies, academic institutions and state biotech centers in 47 states and 26 nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.