[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S14745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HENRI TERMEER PRESENTED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BOSTON'S 
                           GOLDEN DOOR AWARD

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am honored to have this 
opportunity to congratulate Henri Termeer on receiving the Golden Door 
Award from the International Institute of Boston. I also congratulate 
Henri for recently being sworn in as a United States citizen during a 
ceremony on October 29.
  As chairman, chief executive officer and president of Genzyme 
Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, 
Henri is renowned as a pioneer in the industry. He serves on the board 
of directors of both the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the 
industry's national trade association, and the Pharmaceutical Research 
and Manufacturers of America, a national pharmaceutical trade 
organization.
  It is very fitting, indeed, that Henri was honored with the Golden 
Door Award, which is presented to US citizens of foreign birth who have 
made outstanding contributions to American society. Henri is a native 
of the Netherlands, and in recent years he has received numerous honors 
such as the Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award and the 
Governor's New American Appreciation Award. He was also recently 
inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
  Throughout his career in biotechnology, Henri has been a strong 
advocate for the responsibility of industry and government to make 
life-saving drug treatments available to all people in need, regardless 
of their economic status or geographic location. Under Henri's 
leadership, Genzyme has worked diligently over the years to make this 
vision a reality.
  In addition to his commitment to patients, Henri is also a leader in 
promoting educational opportunities for minorities. Since 1995, he has 
been a director of the Biomedical Science Careers Project, which 
provides corporate scholarships to academically outstanding minority 
high school students. In May 1999, the group presented Henri with 
highest honor, the Hope Award.
  Henri's extensive record of public service includes his role as a 
director of the Massachusetts Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as a trustee 
and vice-chairman of the Boston Museum of Science, and as a member of 
the Massachusetts Council on Economic Growth and Technology.
  In receiving the Golden Door award, Henri joins a distinguished list 
of previous recipients including Arthur Fiedler, the famed former 
conductor of the Boston Pops; Jean Mayer, the eminent nutritionist, 
educator, and former president of Tufts University; and An Wang, the 
founder of Wang Labs.
  I commend Henri Termeer for this well-deserved award, and for his new 
American citizenship. Massachusetts is proud of him, and I congratulate 
him for his many impressive contributions to our Nation.




                          ____________________