[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 73 (Friday, May 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING GINGER L. GRAHAM AND DR. WILLIAM H. RASTETTER

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two leaders in the 
health care industry from my Congressional District who have been 
elected to the Board of Directors for The Pharmaceutical Research and 
Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). PhRMA companies are devoted to 
discovering and developing new medicines that will enable patients to 
live longer, healthier and more productive lives. In 2002 the companies 
invested more than $32 billion in discovering and developing new 
medicines, marking the 32nd straight year the industry has increased 
its investment in R&D. PhRMA's mission is to conduct effective advocacy 
for public policies that encourage discovery of important new medicines 
for patients by pharmaceutical biotechnology research companies.
  The experience and expertise of Ms. Ginger L. Graham, and Dr. William 
H. Rastetter will bring San Diego's unique perspective to PhRMA, the 
association that represents the leading research-based pharmaceutical 
and biotechnology companies in the United States.
  Ms. Ginger L. Graham has an impressive resume. In 1986, she received 
her MBA from Harvard University, which began her career at Lilly. 
During Ms. Graham's time at Lilly she held management positions in 
finance, sales, marketing, and strategic planning. In 1993, she was 
appointed president and CEO of Advanced Cardiovascular Systems. Ms. 
Graham was then a part of the team that formed Guidant, a medical 
technology company. After taking Guidant public in 1994, she became the 
president of Guidant's Vascular Intervention Group. Ms. Graham also 
held the position of Group Chairman, Office of the President, at 
Guidant. She is currently the President, CEO, and Director of Amylin 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Ms. Graham is the first female ever to be 
appointed to the board of directors at Phrma.
  Dr. William H. Rastetter received his Ph.D. in 1975 from Harvard. 
Between 1975 and 1982, he held numerous faculty positions at the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He directed the Biocatalysts and 
Chemical Sciences Groups at Genentech from 1982 to 1984. From 1988 to 
1993, Dr. Rastetter held the position of chief financial officer of 
IDEC Pharmaceuticals. Then he became president and CEO of IDEC from 
1986 to 2002. During this time Dr. Rastetter was appointed chairman of 
the IDEC board of directors. Dr. Rastetter is currently the executive 
chairman of Biogen Idec, Inc.

  These two highly qualified individuals have devoted their careers to 
improving health care by bringing new pharmaceutical products through 
research and development and into the marketplace. I am proud that 
these two companies from my Congressional District will be represented 
on the PhRMA Board. San Diego has attained the position as the third 
largest life science cluster in the world, and is also renowned for 
being the most highly concentrated and one of the most diverse centers 
for life science. As the industry in San Diego grows and develops 
further, these two individuals are uniquely positioned to place San 
Diego's fingerprint on the pharmaceutical industry. As a stalwart 
supporter of medical research, I am dedicated to ensuring that 
America's healthcare system remains the best in the world and to 
promoting policies that encourage increased healthcare innovation. I 
look forward to working with Ms. Graham and Dr. Rastetter on public 
policy initiatives.




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