One of our scheduled keynote speakers at the 2012 BIO International Convention in Boston was Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Unfortunately the Senator was unable to join us as planned when his duties kept him in Washington, DC for votes on important legislation.
Senator Kerry has been a strong supporter of biomedical innovation. During the health care reform debate, Senator Kerry strongly supported and fought for a 12-year data exclusivity period for innovative biomedicines and he cosponsored and helped secure passage of the Therapeutic Discovery Project tax program. He also fought to protect health care, innovation, and research as a member of Congress’s “Super Committee” because, as he said, “We can’t cut our way out of our problem, we have to grow our way there.”
After serving as a decorated officer in the United States Navy, a prosecutor and Lt. Governor of his state, John Kerry was elected to the United States Senate in 1984 and he has won reelection four-times since. He is now serving in his 27th year in the Senate, making him the tenth most senior senator and the second longest serving senator in his seat.
Business Week has included Senator Kerry among their “digital dozen” of futurist, tech savvy legislators. Time recently said that “as chairman of the foreign relations committee, he has stepped out overseas — and across the aisle in the Senate — to get things done.”
While we missed hearing from Senator Kerry in person at our Convention, we were honored and delighted he provided this video greeting, reinforcing his strong support for biotechnology.