[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 193 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2275-E2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING VICTOR GRIFOLS ROURA--SPAIN-U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 
                      BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2011

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Victor Grifols 
Roura on being honored as the 2011 Business Leader of the Year by the 
Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Grifols Roura is President and CEO 
of Grifols, a global healthcare company with U.S. headquarters in my 
congressional district in Los Angeles.
  Founded in Barcelona, Spain in 1940, Grifols is a leading producer of 
plasma protein therapies essential for the treatment of a variety of 
rare, chronic and often life-threatening diseases including: 
hemophilia, von-Willibrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, and 
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. All of Grifols medicines are derived 
from human plasma collected at one of the company's 147 plasma donation 
centers across the country.
  For three generations, the Grifols family has been dedicated to 
improving the lives of patients around the world. One of the company's 
founders, Dr. Jose Antonio Grifols Roig, developed the plasma donation 
technique known as plasmapheresis with Dr. Edward Cohn in 1950. Still 
the method of choice today, plasmapheresis is an automated process that 
enables individuals to donate plasma while retaining their red blood 
cells, white blood cells and platelets. This groundbreaking invention 
gave rise to the modern plasma therapeutics industry.
  Mr. Speaker, Grifols employs 700 people in its corporate, 
manufacturing, warehousing, and testing facilities in California's 32nd 
District. The company has invested $135 million in these facilities 
since 2003 and is moving forward with plans to add 70 new manufacturing 
jobs.
  As part of its commitment to Los Angeles, Grifols supports local 
organizations that promote education, job training and skills 
development for area residents. Through an industry partnership with 
Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Grifols devises curricula and 
hosts seminars in microbiology, manufacturing, interviewing techniques 
and resume preparation. Graduating students are given the opportunity 
to tour the Grifols manufacturing facility and learn about the 
production of plasma therapies.
  Grifols also partners with the Wilshire-Metro WorkSource Center, 
which provides workforce

[[Page E2276]]

development resources to job seekers and local businesses. Grifols 
hires interns from the Center who have completed their certificate 
program in technology. In addition, the company interviews all 
graduates of the program to provide them with valuable, real-world 
experience.
  Grifols presence in the U.S. was greatly enhanced this year by the 
acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics. This transaction, valued at 
almost $5 billion, is the largest acquisition ever completed by a 
Spanish company in the U.S. Grifols is now the world's largest 
collector of human plasma, the third largest manufacturer of plasma 
protein therapies globally, and the leading plasma manufacturer in 
Europe.
  Mr. Speaker, the Spain-U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the leading forum 
for the promotion of commercial, economic and industrial relations 
between Spain and the United States. Founded in 1959 and based in New 
York City, the Chamber is a non-profit organization dedicated to 
fostering economic outreach between the two countries.
  The Chamber honored Mr. Grifols at its annual gala dinner in 
Manhattan on December 6th. The U.S Ambassador to Spain, the Spanish 
Ambassador to the U.S., and the Spanish Minister of Culture joined over 
250 guests in recognizing Mr. Grifols Roura's commitment to fostering 
expanded economic and social ties between the U.S. and Spain.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Victor 
Grifols Roura for his outstanding leadership of Grifols and for his 
well deserved honor as 2011 Business Leader of the Year by the Spain-
U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

                          ____________________