The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has
named U.S. Rep. Richard Burr, a Republican congressman from
Winston-Salem, as a “Legislator of the Year” for 2001-2002.
Presented Wednesday during BIO’s annual Legislative Day event in
Washington, DC, the award honors Rep. Burr’s leadership of both
biotechnology and broader health-care initiatives. Burr is in
his fourth term of representing the fifth congressional district.
“Representative Burr has been an outstanding leader in the House
on health-care and biotech issues,” said BIO President Carl B.
Feldbaum in a statement. “His emphatic support for biotechnology
has been a fundamental part of his work as vice chairman of the
Energy and Commerce Committee, and on the Speaker’s Task Force
on Health Care.”
Feldbaum added that Burr has support biotechnology initiatives
for modernizing the Food and Drug Administration, reauthorizing
the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and finding a
private-sector solution for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Other lawmakers honored were Sen. Christopher J. Bond (R-MO), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Florida State Senator Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton).
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization: www.bio.org
