BIO Applauds the Inclusion of Important Health Care and Agriculture Priorities and Programs in Year-end Government Funding Bill

BIO Applauds the Inclusion of Important Health Care and Agriculture Priorities and Programs in Year-end Government Funding Bill

John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), today released the following statement ahead of an expected vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a year-end government funding bill that includes many urgent and bipartisan health care and agricultural priorities and programs: 


“Congress now has a pivotal opportunity to pass reforms and to authorize funding for programs that will make a meaningful difference to advance the health and well-being of the American people. This bipartisan health care agreement advances policies that will also strengthen American competitiveness in biotechnology, improve our response to future pandemics and help to make life-saving medicines more affordable. 


“The agreement includes bipartisan reforms that will bring more transparency to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), middlemen who add wasteful costs to the healthcare system. Advancing these PBM reforms will begin to break the pernicious link between the fees that PBMs charge and the cost of medicines. Now is the time to take these important steps toward improving access to prescription medicines for patients, employers and taxpayers. 


“The legislation further renews a vitally important law that has helped our nation prepare and respond to public health emergencies. It also extends the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher (PPRV) program until September 2029. This program is a market-based mechanism that has incentivized the development of dozens of new treatments for patients with the most rare and devastating pediatric diseases. I’d like to offer a special thank you to the countless patient advocates who worked with us and others to ensure that the PPRV program was reauthorized.


“Additionally, the extension of the farm bill provides critical support to American farmers, ranchers and innovators, and enables continued research, development and sustainability of our nation’s food and renewable fuel supply.


“We urge lawmakers to support these important policies and programs. We look forward to working with the new Congress and new Trump administration to build upon these reforms in the coming year.”

Georgia Life Sciences Applauds Congressman McCormick for Introducing Federal Biotech Leadership Legislation

July 24, 2026
July 24, 2026, Atlanta, GA - Georgia Life Sciences applauds Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) for introducing the Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act , legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in biotechnology by establishing a senior biotechnology leadership position within the U.S. Department of State. As biotechnology continues to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and national security, the United States must remain a global leader in innovation while strengthening strategic partnerships with allies around the world. The proposed legislation recognizes biotechnology as a critical component of U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy and would help ensure that the federal government is well positioned to advance these priorities internationally. The legislation also reflects recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology , which called for a more coordinated national approach to advancing biotechnology and protecting U.S. leadership in this strategically important sector. "Georgia is home to one of the nation's fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems, and policies that strengthen America's global biotechnology leadership directly benefit innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and patients," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "We appreciate Congressman McCormick's leadership in recognizing biotechnology as both an economic engine and a strategic national priority." Georgia Life Sciences looks forward to working with policymakers at both the federal and state levels to advance policies that foster innovation, strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy, and ensure America remains the global leader in biotechnology.

Georgia Life Sciences Names Renee' Martin, Ph.D., Program Manager to Lead Flagship Educator Workforce Development Program

July 21, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences names Renee Martin, Ph.D., to lead its Teacher Training Initiative, advancing educator workforce development and Georgia's future life sciences talent pipeline.

Georgia Life Sciences Partnership Expands Plant Biotechnology Education for Agriscience Teachers Across Georgia

July 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 16, 2026 ATLANTA, Ga . – Eighteen Georgia high school agriscience teachers recently participated in a hands-on plant tissue culture training at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, equipping educators with biotechnology skills and classroom resources that will expand access to experiential STEM learning for students across the state. Hosted through a partnership led by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the workshop was facilitated by Julie Throne, Agriscience Teacher, FFA Advisor, and CTAE Department Chair at Cedar Shoals High School. Participants received practical instruction in plant tissue culture techniques using newly developed portable tissue culture kits generously donated by California-based Athena Ag. Plant tissue culture is a foundational biotechnology technique used in agriculture and plant science research to propagate plants under aseptic conditions. By incorporating these concepts into agriscience classrooms, educators can provide students with hands-on experiences that introduce biotechnology while building technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture and biotechnology. As part of the workshop, each participating teacher received two complete plant tissue culture kits to take back to their school, enabling students throughout Georgia to engage in laboratory-based biotechnology activities and explore emerging career pathways in the life sciences. "Providing educators with access to industry-relevant training and classroom resources is one of the most effective ways to inspire the next generation of Georgia's life sciences workforce," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "Through partnerships like this, we're helping teachers bring real-world biotechnology into their classrooms while expanding opportunities for students to discover careers in one of Georgia's fastest-growing industries." The training is part of Georgia Life Sciences' broader Teacher Training Initiative, a statewide workforce development program that equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge, tools, and industry connections needed to deliver hands-on biotechnology instruction. Through strategic partnerships with industry, education, and nonprofit organizations, the initiative continues to strengthen Georgia's talent pipeline by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce opportunities. Georgia Life Sciences extends its appreciation to Julie Throne for leading the training and to Athena for its generous donation of classroom kits, helping expand access to biotechnology education for educators and students across the state.
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