WASHINGTON--(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 todays BIO Legislative Day Fly-In reception.

The Senators long-standing service to the Finance Committee has been critically important to this nations 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 nations 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 worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

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Senator Bob Menendez Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year