BioHouston

President Bush, Congressional Leaders Award DeBakey Nation's Highest Civilian Honor

noemail@biohouston.org — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:30:00 GMT

April 23, 2008 -- It's all gold for Dr. Michael E. DeBakey.

In the grand Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by Congressional leaders, friends and colleagues, Baylor College of Medicine's renowned leader humbly accepted the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush and the leaders of Congress. See CSpan coverage.

"My first thought of course is to express my deep-seated and humblest sense of gratitude for this high honor you have afforded me," DeBakey said during the ceremony. "Since receiving this award, my cup runneth over."
The medal, designed by sculptor-engraver Don Everhart of the U.S. Mint, was commissioned after both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation supporting the award for the pioneering heart surgeon. President Bush signed the final bill in October of last year.

Throughout U.S. history, the Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded sparingly, in recognition of the tremendous accomplishments that it takes to earn this high honor, President Bush said at the ceremony on Wednesday. "Dr. DeBakey has an impressive resume, but his truest legacy is not inscribed on a medal or etched into stone. It is written on the human heart. His legacy is the unlost hours with family and friends who are still with us because of his healing touch. His legacy is grandparents who lived to see their grandchildren. His legacy is holding the fragile and sacred gift of human life in his hands -- and returning it unbroken."

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid joined the President in presenting the award to DeBakey.

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and U.S. Rep. Al Green led efforts to pass the legislation approving the Medal. Both leaders spoke at the event.

"This is the highest award that Congress can bestow on a civilian. With this honor, Dr. DeBakey joins the company of George Washington, Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison," Hutchison said. "When he was told about this prestigious honor, Dr. DeBakey said, ‘My pride as a citizen of the United States of America is overflowing.' Today, our pride is in you Dr. DeBakey, as we recognize your extraordinary impact on America and the world."

"On September 7 of this year, his life will measure and span 100 years. However, the most meaningful measure of life is not how long one lives, but rather what one does with the time that God gives. Dr. DeBakey, your living has made it possible for others to have better lives," said Green. "If we did not have the Congressional Gold Medal, we would have to create it for the honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey."

A large number of DeBakey's Houston friends and colleagues attended the ceremony, led by BCM President and CEO Dr. Peter G. Traber. Chancellor Emeritus William T. Butler, Chancellor Bobby R. Alford and a number of BCM faculty leaders were on hand to see DeBakey receive the award, as were many Texas Medical Center leaders.

DeBakey has said the permanent home of the Congressional Gold Medal will be in the DeBakey Library and Museum at BCM.

23-Apr-08 10:30 AM

SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act Approved

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:00:00 GMT

The US House of Representatives passed HR 5819, the "SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act," by a vote of 369 yeas to 43 nays. This bill reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research Grant program and modifies the eligibility rules affecting venture capital backed companies for receiving SBIR grants. It will increase access to critical, early-stage sources of funding for small businesses, including small biotechnology firms, thus facilitating economic growth, job creations, new breakthrough therapies for patients in need, and American economic competitiveness in the global economy.

The Bill which was introduced by Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D - NY), contains a provision that changes the definition of a small business from the current definition of "independently owned" to include businesses owned up to 49.9 percent by a venture capital firm. Title II of the act amends Sec. 9 (e) of the Small Business Act, which is specific to the SBIR program.

According to Genomeweb.com the bill would, "reauthorize the programs through 2010 and would give Congress time to examine how the programs are working. The bill also would increase funding levels, raising Phase I awards from $100,000 to $300,000 and Phase II awards from $750,000 to $2.2 million, to reflect the rising costs of high-tech research. The authorization also increases the SBIR program's flexibility by allowing cross-agency awards, letting applicants apply directly for Phase II funding, and loosening eligibility for awards to include small businesses that are backed by venture capital funding. The bill expands the requirements for databases of recipients and it requires interoperability and accessibility between databases in order to allow for better congressional oversight."

17-Apr-08 12:00 PM

Texas Makes Top 5 Biotech Regions

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, February 22, 2008 - Texas has been named for the first time as one of the Top 5 regions in the world for biotechnology economic development efforts in the annual rankings compiled by the newsletter FierceBiotech.

The primary reason cited for Texas' rise in the rankings is ratification of the state's $3 billion in funding for cancer research by Texas voters last Fall. The bond initiative will allow the Texas legislature to authorize up to $3 billion in bonds over ten years on behalf of a newly formed Cancer Research and Prevention Institute.

"We believe that this honor is recognition of the progress that has been made over the last 5 years in the growth of a thriving life science industry in Houston," said BioHouston President and CEO Jacqueline Northcut. The Houston region now has over 140 life science companies, double the number that existed here in 2003. To see the complete article, click on the following links: Article 1 Article 2

22-Feb-08 4:00 PM