In the News

WASHINGTON, Apr 25, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) as Legislator of the Year for 2011-2012. Senator Menendez receives the award at today's BIO Legislative Day Fly-In reception.

"The Senator's long-standing service to the Finance Committee has been critically important to this nation's healthcare industry and the patients it serves," said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. "Senator Menendez has been a proponent of issues critical to our nation's biotech industry, as exemplified through his hard work instituting, and fighting for the reauthorization of, the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit."

"The life sciences industry accounts for over 400,000 high-skilled, high-paying jobs in New Jersey. Senator Menendez understands the challenges facing our biotechnology industry, especially emerging companies, in the current economic environment. We thank him for his outstanding leadership on behalf of the biotechnology industry in New Jersey and throughout our country," said Debbie Hart, President of BioNJ.

More than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 41 states will participate in hundreds of meetings with Members of the House and Senate during the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry including reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments (TREAT) Act/Faster Access to Specialized Treatments (FAST) Act, adequate reimbursement for vital therapies under Medicare, and capital formation issues relevant to biotechnology companies.

Photos of the award presentation are available upon request.

BIO represents more than 1,100 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.

SOURCE: Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)

The office of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced that the Lanoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Co. has received $280,250 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to replace two aging fire engines with a new upgraded vehicle.

The engines, which have been in use since 1989 and 1978, respectively, will be replaced with a new vehicle that holds more than 300 gallons of water, significantly improving the department's ability to fight fires.

"To keep New Jersey families safe, our first responders need the best equipment available," said Senator Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the AFG program. "Lanoka Harbor's fire truck fleet is aging and in serious need of improvement, and this federal grant will make important upgrades to enhance the fire company's ability to keep local families safe and secure."

"Clearly, the time has come for Lanoka Harbor's volunteer fire company to replace its aging fire trucks and I'm so pleased this grant will mean a brand new, upgraded vehicle," said Senator Menendez. "New Jersey firefighters answer the calls to protect our families and our communities and it's our responsibility to make sure they have all the resources they need to carry out jobs their safely and effectively."