[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MONTH

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, shortly before the first session of 
the 106th Congress adjourned, I introduced, and the Senate passed, a 
resolution designating January 2000 as ``National Biotechnology 
Month.'' I rise today to formally recognize National Biotechnology 
Month here in the Senate.
  While back in Minnesota, I had the opportunity to meet with some of 
my constituents who are in the biotechnology industry. Whether it's 
agricultural, medical, or environmental applications of biotechnology, 
Minnesota is a leader in the field.
  Here are some characteristics of the biotechnology industry 
nationally:
  Over 200 million people worldwide have been helped by the more than 
80 biotechnology drug products and vaccines approved by the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA).
  There are more than 350 biotechnology drug products and vaccines 
currently in human clinical trials and hundreds more in early 
development in the United States. These medicines are designed to treat 
various cancers, Alzheimer's, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, 
obesity and other conditions.
  Biotechnology will help us feed the world by developing new and 
better agriculture commodities that are disease and pest resistant and 
offer higher yields as well.
  Environmental biotechnology products make it possible to more 
efficiently clean up hazardous waste without the use of caustic 
chemicals.
  Industrial biotechnology applications have led to cleaner processes 
with lower production of wastes and lower energy consumption, in such 
industrial sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, food and 
fuels, metals and minerals and energy. For example, much of the denim 
produced in the United States is finished using biotechnology enzymes.
  DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved 
criminal investigation and forensic medicine, as well as afforded 
significant advances in anthropology and wildlife management.
  There are 1,283 biotechnology companies in the United States-many in 
Minnesota.
  Market capitalization, the amount of money invested in the O.S. 
biotechnology industry, increased 4 percent in 1998, from $93 billion 
to (97 billion.
  Approximately one-third of biotech companies employ fewer than 50 
employees. More than two-thirds employ fewer than 135 people.
  The U.S. biotechnology industry currently employs more than 153,000 
people in high-wage, high-value jobs.
  Biotechnology is one of the most research-intensive industries in the 
world. The U.S. biotech industry spent $9.9 billion in research and 
development in 1998. The top five biotech companies spent an average of 
$121,400 per employee on R&D.
  Mr. President, biotechnology plays an extremely important part in my 
life because a little over a year ago I had an artificial valve 
implanted in my heart to correct a condition I had for years. Without 
the research and commitment of this industry, I might not have had that 
option available to me.
  I have always been a believer in biomedical and basic scientific 
research and the advances we will see in the future will be testimony 
to the importance and foresight of the investment we make today--and I 
have no doubt the future holds great promise.

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