IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 421

Commending the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the world’s largest 

biotechnology organization, for a successful annual convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 29, 2005

Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania (for herself, Mr. DENT, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania, Mr. SHERWOOD, 

Mr. CASTLE, Mr. HOLT, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. 

LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mrs. 

MCCARTHY, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. KIND, 

Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. GERLACH, 

Mr. PALLONE, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HIGGINS, 

Mr. KILDEE, Ms. SOLIS, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. 

CARDOZA, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 

SCHIFF, Ms. HOOLEY, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. VAN

HOLLEN, Mr. FORD, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 

Mr. OLVER, Mr. CHANDLER, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. LOBIONDO, 

and Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Government Reform 

RESOLUTION

Commending the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the 

world’s largest biotechnology organization, for a successful annual convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Whereas the Biotechnology Industry Organization (‘‘BIO’’), 

the world’s largest biotechnology organization, provides 

advocacy, business development, and communications 
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•HRES 421 IH 

services for more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, 

academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and related organizations across the United States and 31 other 

nations; 

Whereas biotechnology research expands the boundaries of 

science to benefit mankind by providing for better 

healthcare, enhanced agriculture, and a cleaner and safer 

environment; 

Whereas the convergence of systems biology, genomics, 

infomatics, proteomics, nanotechnology, and personalized 

medicine bring us to the threshold of a new era; 

Whereas biotechnology therapeutics are used to treat many 

diseases, including anemia, cystic fibrosis, growth deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, hepatitis, transplant rejection, leukemia, and other cancers; 

Whereas there are more than 300 biotech drug products and 

vaccines currently in clinical trials targeting more than 

200 diseases, including various cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, 

and arthritis; 

Whereas biotechnology is responsible for hundreds of medical 

diagnostic tests that keep the blood supply safe from the 

AIDS virus and detect other conditions early enough to 

be successfully treated; 

Whereas environmental biotechnology products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently by harnessing pollution-eating microbes without the use of caustic chemicals; 

Whereas industrial biotechnology applications have led to 

cleaner processes that produce less waste and use less energy and water in such industrial sectors as chemicals, 
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•HRES 421 IH 

pulp and paper, textiles, food, energy, and metals and 

minerals; 

Whereas industrial biotechnology also enables its users to 

harness enzymes to convert plant waste to fuel and to 

biodegradable plastics, reducing our dependence on foreign oil; 

Whereas agriculture biotechnology allows its users to produce 

more and more healthful foods, on a fixed amount of arable land, in a more efficient manner, and these breakthroughs reduce soil tillage, fossil fuel use, and runoff of 

agricultural pesticides into our lakes, streams, and 

oceans; 

Whereas BIO brought together more than 18,700 people 

from 56 countries and all 50 States at its annual international convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 

June 19 through June 22, 2005; 

Whereas the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of 

Delaware, and the State of New Jersey co-hosted the 

convention, known as the BIO 2005 Annual International 

Convention; 

Whereas more than 300 volunteers from this tri-State region 

and hundreds of employees of the City of Philadelphia 

contributed to the Convention’s success; 

Whereas the immediate economic impact of the BIO 2005 

Annual International Convention on the City of Philadelphia, including its hotels, restaurants, and taxi operators, 

is estimated at more than $35 million; 

Whereas the Convention put the local life-sciences community 

on the map globally; and 

Whereas the BIO 2005 Annual International Convention will 

allow for further collaboration, advancement, and devel-
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•HRES 421 IH 

opment within the field of biotechnology: Now, therefore, 

be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends the Biotechnology Industry Organization for a suc3 cessful 2005 Annual International Convention at the 

4 Pennsylvania Convention Center in the City of Philadel5 phia.

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