[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 156 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BIOLOGIC LABORATORIES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, today I speak on behalf of the University 
of Massachusetts Biologic Laboratory (MBL). For over 100 years, 
scientists at the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratory have made great 
contributions toward improving the public health of the citizens of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Nation. MBL has collaborated with 
the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, the 
Department of Defense, and state public health departments across the 
country to develop vaccines, plasma products and monoclonal antibodies. 
MBL has done this in its unique role as the only publicly owned and 
operated, FDA-licensed biological manufacturing facility in the United 
States.
  MBL's national contributions include the development of products such 
as the smallpox vaccine, the typhoid vaccine, the tetanus vaccine and a 
scarlet fever antitoxin. MBL also specializes in the development and 
manufacture of orphan biologicals--those life saving products that are 
either in limited use or for special populations.
  Under the leadership of Thomas Manning, MBL plans to build a new 
facility at the Old Boston State Mental Hospital property in Mattaphan. 
This new facility will enable MBL to maintain FDA compliance, provide 
space for new product development and improve operation efficiency of 
the plant.
  This facility will continue the tradition of new and great 
advancements in the biological community as it provides real 
opportunity to a community in need of redevelopment and new jobs.
  I fully support Massachusetts Biologic Laboratory's plans to develop 
a facility in Mattaphan for its expanded efforts in applied research, 
development and the production of biological products. The University 
of Massachusetts Medical School is prepared to make a large financial 
commitment to this project. With the benefits that MBL's products have 
brought to our Nation, I believe the Federal Government should also 
contribute to this effort. I look forward to working with Doctors Donna 
Ambrosino and Jeanne Leszczynski, and Thomas Manning, to secure Federal 
funding for MBL in fiscal year 2002.




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