HR0492 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0492 LRB099 12293 GRL 35312 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is recognized for its strong and diverse economic assets in medical and agricultural biotechnology; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization was created to support and provide advocacy for sound public policy involving the biomedical, bioindustrial, and bioprocessing communities, including agriculture; that same year, David Miller was selected as the first President and CEO of the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization by its Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Under David Miller's leadership, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization grew to 1,500 members; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, the iBIO Institute was created and added to the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization to promote entrepreneurship training for early stage biotechnology companies (PROPEL) and to address deficiencies in STEM education in elementary and secondary education (EDUCATE); and

WHEREAS, The work and activities of PROPEL and EDUCATE flourished and expanded, warranting the creation of a separate Governance Board for the iBIO Institute in 2013 also under David Miller's leadership; and

WHEREAS, In each year since 2003, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization has collectively recognized 21 government officials who have been leaders in advancing life science issues through the presentation of the John W. Maitland Jr. Biotechnology Leadership Award, which originated during David Miller's tenure; and

WHEREAS, David Miller was instrumental in working with the vast Illinois agricultural industry to recognize its potential and vital connection to biotechnology industry in Illinois and the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, David Miller was a co-creator of the Vision for Illinois Agriculture in 2006-07, a co-chair of the Farm Illinois Food and Agriculture Roadmap in 2014-15, and a 2014 recipient of the Illinois Farm Bureau's highest honor, the Eagle Award for Excellence; and

WHEREAS, David Miller heavily contributed to the successful attraction of the international Biotechnology Industrial Organization convention to Chicago and the Midwest in 2006, and again in 2010 and 2013; and

WHEREAS, A 2012 industry analysis conducted by Ernst & Young found that 81,000 individuals in Illinois were employed in 3,500 biotechnology firms, which added $98 billion to the Illinois economy, making the biotechnology industry a key driver to economic growth; and

WHEREAS, The analysis demonstrated that biotechnology in the Midwest ranked and competed aggressively with all other regions in the United States, with Chicago and Illinois providing the leading center of the Midwest biotechnology sector; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is now recognized for its leading Midwest and national presence and dominance in biotechnology; and

WHEREAS, In February of 2015, David Miller retired as President and CEO after presiding over 13 years of incredible growth in biotechnology in Illinois; he was bestowed with the title of President Emeritus by its Board of Directors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and commend David Miller for his leadership in the growth of the biotechnology industry in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we show our great appreciation for the vast contributions that the biotechnology industry makes to the Illinois economy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to David Miller as a symbol of our respect and esteem.