[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E31-E32]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JAMES C. GREENWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 31, 2000

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Representative Cliff Stearns to recognize January 2000 as National 
Biotechnology Month.
  It is fitting that in the first month of this new year, at the start 
of a new century, we look to biotechnology as our greatest hope for the 
future.
  Mapping the human genome, for example, is ahead of schedule and 
nearly complete. That achievement, begun 10 years ago, will

[[Page E32]]

rank as one of the most significant advances in health care by 
accelerating the biotechnology industry's discovery of new therapies 
and cures for our most life-threatening diseases.
  Biotechnology not only is using genetic research to create new 
medicines, but also to improve agriculture, industrial manufacturing 
and environmental management.
  The United States leads the world in biotechnology innovation. There 
are approximately 1,300 biotech companies in the United States, 
employing more than 150,000 people. The industry spent nearly $10 
billion on research and development in 1998. Although revenues totaled 
$18.4 billion, the industry recorded a net loss of $5 billion because 
of the expensive nature of drug development.
  In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved more 
than 20 biotechnology drugs, vaccines and new indications for existing 
medicines, pushing the number of marketed biotech drugs and vaccines to 
more than 90. Total FDA biotech approvals from 1982 through 1999 reach 
more than 140 when adding clearances for new indications of existing 
medicines. The vast majority of new biotech drugs were approved in the 
second half of the 1990s, demonstrating the biotechnology industry's 
surging proficiency at finding new medicines to treat our most life-
threatening illnesses.
  Biotechnology is revolutionizing every facet of medicine from 
diagnosis to treatment of all diseases. It is detailing life at the 
molecular level and someday will take much of the guesswork out of 
disease management and treatment. The implications for health care are 
as great as any milestone in medical history. We expect to see great 
strides early in this century.
  A devastating disease that has stolen many of our loved ones, 
neighbors and friends is cancer. Biotechnology already has made 
significant strides in battling certain cancers. This is only the 
beginning.
  The first biotechnology cancer medicines have been used with surgery, 
chemotherapy and radiation to enhance their effectiveness, lessen 
adverse effects and reduce chances of cancer recurrence.
  Newer biotech cancer drugs target the underlying molecular causes of 
the disease. Biotech cancer treatments under development, such as 
vaccines that prevent abnormal cell growth, may make traditional 
treatments obsolete. In addition, gene therapy is being studied as a 
way to battle cancer by starving tumor cells to death.
  Many biotech drugs are designed to treat our most devastating and 
intractable illnesses. In many cases these medicines are the first ever 
therapies for those diseases. For example, advancements in research 
have yielded first-of-a-kind drugs to treat multiple sclerosis and 
rheumatoid arthritis as well as cancer.
  Other medicines in clinical trials block the start of the molecular 
cascade that triggers inflammation's tissue damaging effects in 
numerous disease states. In diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's 
and Huntington's, clinical trials are under way to test a variety of 
cell therapies that generate healthy neurons to replace deteriorated 
ones. Recent breakthroughs in stem cell research have prompted experts 
to predict cures within 10 years for some diseases, such as Type I 
(Juvenile) Diabetes and Parkinson's.
  With more than 350 biotechnology medicines in late-stage clinical 
trials for illnesses, such as heart ailments, cancer, neurological 
diseases and infections, biotechnology innovation will be the 
foundation not only for improving our health and quality of life, but 
also lowering health care costs.
  In the past two years Congress has increased funding for the National 
Institutes of Health's basic research programs by 15 percent per year. 
We are 40 percent of the way toward doubling the NIH budget. Health-
care research, however, is not one-sided. The public funds we provide 
are for basic research. The private sector takes this basic science and 
then spends many times more than what the government has contributed to 
create new drugs and get them to patients. In today's world, 
biotechnology companies are among the greatest innovators and risk 
takers.
  Biotechnology also is being used to improve agriculture, industrial 
manufacturing and environmental management. In manufacturing, the 
emphasis has shifted from the removal of toxic chemicals in production 
waste streams to replacement of those pollutants with biological 
processes that prevent the environment from being fouled. And because 
these biological processes are derived from renewable sources they also 
conserve traditional energy resources. Industrial biotechnology 
companies are the innovators commercializing clean technologies and 
their progress is accelerating at an astonishing rate.
  In agricultural biotechnology, crops on the market have been modified 
to protect them from insect damage thus reducing pesticide use. Biotech 
crops that are herbicide tolerant enable farmers to control weeds 
without damaging the crops. This allows farmers flexibility in weed 
management and promotes conservation tillage. Other biotech crops are 
protected against viral diseases with the plant equivalent of a 
vaccine. Biotech fruits and vegetables are tastier and firmer and 
remain fresher longer.
  The number of acres worldwide planted with biotech crops soared from 
4.3 million in 1996 to 100 million in 1999, of which 81 million acres 
were planted in the United States and Canada. Acceptance of these crops 
by farmers is one indication of the benefits they have for reducing 
farming costs and use of pesticides while increasing crop yields.
  Biotech crops in development include foods that will offer increased 
levels of nutrients and vitamins. Benefits range from helping 
developing nations meet basic dietary requirements to creating disease-
fighting and health-promoting foods.
  Biotechnology is improving the lives of those in the U.S. and abroad. 
The designation of January 2000 as National Biotechnology Month is an 
indication to our constituents and their children that Congress 
recognizes the value and the promise of this technology. Biotechnology 
is a big word that means hope.

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