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Congressman Bobby Rush Named BIO Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2006) -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has named Congressman Bobby Rush (D, IL-1) as a “Legislator of the Year” for 2005-2006.

“BIO honors Representative Rush for his leadership as a co-chair of the House Biotech Caucus,” BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood stated.  “The Congressman has been a consistent supporter of the biotechnology industry and has sponsored numerous educational briefings to showcase the benefits of biotechnology to his colleagues in Congress.”

“Congressman Bobby Rush has been a recognized friend of the biotechnology movement,” agreed David Miller, President of the Illinois Biotechnology Organization (iBIO).  “In addition to serving as a Co-Chairman of the House Biotechnology Caucus, he is the recipient of iBIO’s coveted Maitland Award for leadership in the biosciences here in Illinois.  His BIO Legislator of the Year award is certainly well deserved.”

Congressman Rush will receive the BIO Legislator of the Year award tonight prior to addressing more than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 35 states, including Illinois, participating in BIO’s Legislative Day.  Participants will meet with federal legislators in nearly 300 meetings to discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including patent rights, the risk of drug importation, the Small Business Innovation Research program, and science-based standards for adventitious presence.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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