VA Biotech Bills Final Action Today

More than a year's work on proposals to help promote the bioscience and advanced technology industry in Virginia comes down to actions by the General Assembly today.

SB 1338, the "omnibus" biotech bill patroned by Senator Mark Herring, won advancement to a conference committee late yesterday afternoon. The Senate appointed Mark Herring, Don McEachin and Jill Vogel as conferees. House conferees are Mark Sickles, Sam Nixon and John O' Bannon.

The goal of VaBio is to help the advocates on both sides of the embryonic stem cell issue to find a compromise that leads to final passage.

VaBIO is grateful to several key members who have really worked hard to find a satisfactory compromise: Senator Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach and Delegate Sam Nixon of Chesterfield have really gone above the call of duty to help.

Luckily, there have only been two legislators so far who appear unwilling to look for a compromise. One Delegate from the Richmond area called the VaBio lobbyist "Dr. Mengele," a reference to a Nazi concentration camp doctor. More on that later!

VaBIO will post an update as soon as we have news to report.