[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING SAN DIEGO BASED GEN-PROBE ON RECEIVING THE NATIONAL 
                      MEDAL OF TECHNOLOGY LAUREATE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2006

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Gen-Probe Incorporated 
in recognition of their recent receipt of a 2004 National Medal of 
Technology Laureate.
  On February 13, 2006, President George W. Bush presented Gen-Probe, a 
San Diego-based company, with our Nation's most prestigious 
technological innovation award, the National Medal of Technology 
Laureate. This award is in recognition of Gen-Probe's pioneering work 
to develop revolutionary nucleic acid tests to protect the Nation's 
blood supply from dangerous HIV-1 and hepatitis C viruses. Gen-Probe 
collaborated with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration among others, to create improved 
technologies and systems for the detection of viral diseases.
  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos joined the President in his 
praises, stating, ``Their creativity and willingness to take risks to 
achieve technological breakthroughs have helped make America the leader 
in innovation.''
  The National Medal of Technology is the Nation's highest honor for 
technological innovation. As established by Congress in 1980, 
recognition is given to individuals, teams, and/or companies who 
``embody the spirit of American innovation and who have advanced the 
Nation's global competitiveness.'' This award highlights contributions 
which will have made a lasting contribution to the Nation's workforce 
and quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to join the President and the Commerce 
Secretary in personally recognizing the dedication and commitment of 
the researchers, engineers, lab analysts and assistants, and management 
who contributed to safeguarding our Nation's blood supply.

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