Insight & Intelligence™ : May 6, 2013
GEN Congressional Hall of Fame
Biomedical research has friends in high places. Meet them.
Below is a list of 50 current members of Congress—30 of the House of Representatives and 20 of the Senate—who have been recognized at least once since 2010 for their support of federal spending for research in biopharma and/or all sciences. That recognition has come most often through awards, but the list includes other examples, such as through public praise by an institution in a press announcement, or through the inclusion of their name in the formal title of legislation enacted into law, not merely through sponsorship or co-sponsorship of a bill.
Members of Congress are listed by name, followed by party affiliation and state abbreviation, then a list of many of their honors and awards in supporting science research. While this list does not purport to be an exhaustive list of such honors and awards, the results below nevertheless reveal some interesting findings. Many of the representatives and senators honored for their support for research spending either play leadership roles in their chambers, or hold key positions of influence on committees that consider research funding legislation, either as chairs or ranking members of their party. Some groups also honored favored representatives or senators more than once. And the honorees that have received numerous recognitions are most often those most vocal about increasing funding for NIH and other agencies.
Also revealed in the list is the sheer breadth of groups that recognized members of Congress for their support of federal research spending. In addition to traditional industry groups like the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), they include umbrella organizations focused on research advocacy, disease-based advocacy groups, and even groups based outside biopharma whose criteria for awards included broad overall support for research in all sciences. Several of the groups have only begun bestowing awards on members of Congress within the past four years, reflecting their interest in highlighting representatives and senators who share their views.
The list of awards and honors was compiled through online searchers of the members’ biographies, as well as of announcements on organizations’ web pages, and of lists of past winners maintained by the organizations. The list does not include former representatives or senators.
House of Representatives
Rep. Tammy Baldwin
D-WI
Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), inaugural Public Official Award, 2010
Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
R-TX
Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2012
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Coalition, Congressional Champion Award, 2011
American Academy of Ophthalmology, Visionary Award, 2010
American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Congressional Leadership Award, 2009
Multiple Sclerosis Society, House Legislator of the Year, 2008
Rep. Diana DeGette
D-CO
Cancer Leadership Award, presented jointly by American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), Friends of Cancer Research, and the Oncology Nursing Society, 2012
American Diabetes Association, Public Policy leadership Award, 2011
Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2006
Rep. Rosa DeLauro
D-CT
AACR, invited to address Rally for Medical Research, 2013
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2013
United for Medical Research (UMR), Profile of Promise, 2011
Ovarian National Cancer Alliance, first-ever Hope Award, 2010
Rep. Anna Eshoo
D-CA
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Coalition, Congressional Champion Award, 2011
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2010
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2009
BayBio, Bio Legislator of the Year, 2008
Rep. Chaka Fattah
D-PA
Council on Undergraduate Research with American Chemical Society, Honorary CUR Fellows Award, 2013
Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC)1, Leadership Award, 2012
Fattah Neuroscience Initiative, the first-ever federal inter-agency collaboration focused on neuroscience, enacted by President Obama, 2011
Rep. Jim Gerlach
R-PA
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2013
Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association, Federal Legislator of the Year, 2009
Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, ACE Award, 2008
Voice Foundation, VERA Award of Achievement, 2005
U.S. Oncology, Medal of Honor, 2004
Rep. Ralph Hall
R-TX
American Physical Society (APS), George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2010
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2001
Rep. Richard Hanna
R-NY
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2013
Rep. Mike Honda
D-CA
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2013
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2005
Rep. Rush Holt
D-NJ
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Philip Hauge Abelson Award, 2010
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2006
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2004
Scientific American, Policy Leader of the Year, 2002
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2001
Rep. Randy Hultgren
R-IL
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2012
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2012
Rep. Steve Israel
D-NY
AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2011
Rep. Ron Kind
D-WI
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2013
Rep. Barbara Lee
D-CA
AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012
HIV Medicine Association, Leadership Award, 2012
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Legislator of the Year, 2012
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ambassadors Ball honoree, 2011
Rep. Daniel Lipinski
D-IL
BESC, Congressional Leadership Award, 2013
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2011
Rep. Edward Markey
D-MA
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2012
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, public praise for resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp to fund Alzheimer’s disease research at NIH, 2011
Rep. Richard Neal
D-MA
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2013
Rep. David Price
D-NC
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, Honorary Member, 2011
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2002
American Chemical Society, Public Service Award, 2002
Rep. Dave Reichert
R-WA
BESC, Congressional Leadership Award, 2013
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
Rep. Mike Rogers
R-MI
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2012
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2007
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
D-CA
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
Rep. Allyson Schwartz
D-PA
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2012
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2008
Rep. James Sensenbrenner
R-WI
AUTM, inaugural Public Official Award, 2010
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 1999
Rep. Louise Slaughter
D-NY
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2013
NIH, Office of Research on Women's Health, Visionary for Women's Health Research award marking ORWH's tenth anniversary, 2000
American Public Health Association, Distinguished Public Health Legislator, 1997
House of Representatives (continued)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
D-FL
AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012;
AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2011
Rep. Fred Upton
R-MI
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011
Rep. Chris Van Hollen
D-MD
AACR, invited to address Rally for Medical Research, 2013;
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2007
Rep. David Wu
D-OR
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2010
Rep. C.W. Bill Young
D-FL
AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2011
Senate
Sen. Sherrod Brown
D-OH
AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012
AACI and Cancer Center Administrators Forum, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2010
American Society of Hematology (ASH), Public Service Award, 2010
Sen. Richard Burr
R-NC
Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2013
National Down Syndrome Society, Champion of Change, 2013
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin
D-MD
UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
Sen. Bob Casey
D-PA
Research!America Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy winner 2013
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
ASH, Public Service Award, 2011
Sen. Susan Collins
R-ME
Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2011
American Diabetes Association, National Public Policy Leadership Award, 2000
American Diabetes Association, Legislator of the Year, 1999
Sen. Richard J. Durbin
D-IL
UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013
Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2011
American Medical Association, Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service, 2001
American Public Health Association, Legislator of the Year, 1999
Sen. Al Franken
D-MN
Arthritis Foundation, Advocacy Leadership Award, 2013
Sen. Kay Hagan
D-NC
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2012
Sen. Tom Harkin
D-IA
Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2013
AACR, Award for Distinguished Service and Global Impact in Cancer and Biomedical Research, 2012
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Coalition, Congressional Champion Award, 2011
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, 2011
Friends of the National Library of Medicine, Excellence in Public Leadership Award, 2008
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2002
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), Public Service Award, 1999
Sen. Orrin Hatch
R-UT
Utah Technology Leaders for Senator Hatch, endorsement, 2012
Research!America, Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, 2007
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Congressional Leadership Award, 2002
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
D-MN
ASH, Public Service Award, 2012
Sen. Pat Leahy
D-VT
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, reform of U.S. Patent law, enacted by President Obama, 2011
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2011
Sen. Robert Menendez
D-NJ
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2013
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2012
BioNJ, Public Service Award, 2011
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2010
Sen. Mitch McConnell
R-KY
Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2013
Sen. Barbara Mikulski
D-MD
UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013
Research!America Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy winner 2012
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, public praise for resolution urging the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp to fund Alzheimer’s disease research at NIH, 2011
BIO, Legislator of the Year, 2010
ISTSS, Public Advocacy Award, 2007
National Breast Cancer Coalition, Certificate of Excellence, 2005
Foundation for National Institutes of Health, Recognition for Commitment to Biomedical Research & the Human Genome Project, 2003
Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Connie Mack Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2003
APS, George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2001
NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, Visionary for Women's Health Award, 2000
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2000
Neurofibromatosis, Certificate of Appreciation for Continuous Support of Neurofibromatosis Research, 2000
American Heart Association, Award of Appreciation, 1999
Sen. Jerry Moran
R-KS
UMR, public praise for introducing amendment to raise NIH funding in FY 2014 Budget Resolution, 2013;
AACI, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012
One Voice Against Cancer, Congressional Cancer Champion, 2012
AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2011
Sen. Pat Roberts
R-KS
Healthcare Distribution Management Association, Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award, 2011
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2002
Sen. Richard Shelby
R-AL
AACR, Distinguished Public Service Award, 2012;
UMR, Profile of Promise, 2011
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
D-MI
Alzheimer’s Association, Humanitarian Award, 2012
Sen. Mark Udall
D-CO
American Physical Society (APS), George E. Brown Jr. Science, Engineering and Technology Leadership Award, 2012
The Science Coalition, Champion of Science, 2003
Notes:
1 Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition formed last year by American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and Ecological Society of America.