BIO Urges Senate Confirmation of Sebelius and Hamburg

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 27, 2009) – The following statement was issued today by Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood urging the U.S. Senate to move forward quickly in confirming Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Peggy Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration:

"On behalf of the 1.3 million men and women employed in the biosciences in the United States, I urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Dr. Peggy Hamburg as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner."

"While we recognize and appreciate the work being done to address the swine flu public health emergency by Acting Secretary Charles Johnson and Acting Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein, our public health agencies, the administration and the general public greatly benefit from having a confirmed Secretary and FDA Commissioner who would help provide the stability, leadership and confidence the public seeks from the nation’s top public health department at times of such public health emergencies."

"We look forward to working with the Secretary, the Commissioner and the administration to provide any assistance required to address both the current and future public health emergencies."

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO-LES Business Development Basics Course
May 15–17, 2009
Atlanta, GA  

BIO-LES Advanced Business Development Course
May 15–17, 2009
Atlanta, GA 

BIO Executive Presentation Workshop
May 17, 2009
Atlanta, GA

BIO Human Resources Conference
May 17-19, 2009
Atlanta, GA

2009 BIO International Convention
May 18-21, 2009
Atlanta, GA

BioEquity Europe
June 9-10, 2009
Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing
July 19-22, 2009
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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.

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