BIO Names Sen. Charles Grassley a Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2003) — As part of its annual Legislative Day event, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today named Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) as a “Legislator of the Year” for 2002-2003 in recognition of both his support for the biotechnology industry and broader health-care initiatives. The award was presented at a constituent meeting with Iowa biotech executives.

“As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Grassley has been a powerful advocate for Medicare reform involving market-based measures that would serve the program well financially in the years ahead, said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum.

“Senator Grassley has also worked to solve reimbursement problems within the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System that threaten biotech medicine access for thousands of elderly and disabled patients.

“And he has been a staunch supporter for removing international trade barriers to genetically modified crops,” Feldbaum added.

More than 175 biotechnology industry representatives ranging from CEOs to research scientists are expected to convene on Capitol Hill during today’s BIO Legislative Day event to meet with legislators. The topics of discussion will include reimbursement problems within the Medicare hospital outpatient setting, tax and capital formation, Medicare reform, regulatory concerns surrounding follow-on biologics and reducing trade barriers for American farmers.

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.