The voice of the industry

2010 BIO Legislative Fly-In, April 13-14, 2010 - Register Now!

BioForward is encouraging Wisconsin biotechnology leaders to participate in the annual Legislative Day Fly-In, sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Join with peers to highlight Wisconsin’s strengths and needs: learn about pending legislation, inform your legislators on issues of importance to the industry, and tell your stories.

The annual BIO Fly-In provides an opportunity for the biotechnology industry to meet with members of the 111th Congress. BIO will schedule and coordinate all meetings with your U.S. Senators and Representatives, brief participants and provide you with "leave behind" materials. A complimentary reception, breakfast and lunch are all included.

How to Register:

Register for the Fly-In, and find out more information at http://www.bio.org/flyin/ (Registration is complimentary. However, all participants must complete the complimentary registration through BIO’s website in order to attend the meetings and events.)

Contact BioForward to advise us you will attend (or if you have any questions). We will hold an information session in late March or early April for participants.

To confirm your participation, or for more information, contact: Paul Radspinner, BioForward Government Affairs Committee Chair at pradspinner@flugen.com / (608) 442-6561; or Karen Dettinger, BioForward Program Director at kdettinger@bioforward.org / (608) 236-4756

General

Public policy plays a critical role in the success of the biotechnology industry. BioForward works actively to:

Be a positive voice that works to educate our legislators and the public on critical biotechnology issues
Educate our members on public policy issues, and on how they can make their own voice heard
Help shape state and federal policy
Monitor legislation that will affect our members and our industry

General Information on the Legislative Process

From time to time we will post information on the legislative process we think will be of interest to our members, as well as other general interest information related to public policy:

Legislative Process in Wisconsin. This overview was prepared and presented by Jordan Lamb, Attorney and Government Affairs Consultant, DeWitt Ross and Stevens, at our March 11, 2009 breakfast meeting.

Federal Issues

SBIR REAUTHORIZATION

BioForward’s position: BioForward endorses the expansion and renewal of the SBIR Program, which includes the following principles:

Expand: SBIR should be expanded. With all of the data suggesting that SBIR undoubtedly works for America, increasing the percentage of the U.S. federally funded R&D budget that enters SBIR is warranted.
Restore Adequacy: SBIR grant size should be increased without a significant change in the number of grant applications funded. Increasing the size of the average grant will offset the fact that the increased cost and complexity of innovative research has outpaced the size of the average grant over the program’s life.
Restore Fairness: Allow small business owned by venture capitalists to again participate at a higher level than they were participating prior to the Small Business Administration clarification that firms with greater than 50% venture capital ownership could not participate.

Background information: Use the links below for background information and to follow the House and Senate progress on SBIR Reauthorization.

House Bill 2965

Conferee Letter on HR2965 from Representatives Markey, Tsongas, Welch and Hodes

Senate Bill 1233

Reports from the National Academies Press