1Designating March 19, 2013, as "Life Sciences Day" in this
2Commonwealth.

3WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has a rich history of research and
4innovation, including home to the nation's first hospital,
5medical school and college of pharmacy; and

6WHEREAS, Many of the world's greatest medical breakthroughs
7have come from research conducted in this Commonwealth including
8vaccines against blood-based hepatitis B, rubella, rotavirus and
9polio as well as the first simultaneous heart, liver and kidney
10transplant; and

11WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is the only state with 13 world-
12renowned research institutions and is home to the leading
13National Institutes of Health award-recipient universities; and

14WHEREAS, The future of this Commonwealth's life sciences

1industry is bright, ranking 4th in the nation for life science-
2related patents and recognizing that the number of life science
3companies in this Commonwealth has increased 13% in the last 5
4years; and

5WHEREAS, Business Facilities magazine has ranked this
6Commonwealth among the top 3 states during the last 5 years for
7biotechnology; and

8WHEREAS, This Commonwealth offers proximity to the regulatory
9bodies in Washington, DC, and the investment community in New
10York, as well as a unique blend of talent ranging from recent
11graduates of this Commonwealth's numerous higher education
12institutions to the executives carrying on the legacy left by
13leaders such as the late Dr. Hubert J.P. Schoemaker and Frank
14Baldino, Jr. Ph.D.; and

15WHEREAS, The life science industry is a cornerstone of this
16Commonwealth's economic future, directly employing nearly 80,000
17workers, a total employment impact of nearly 500,000 jobs and
18economic impact from wages alone totaling $8.15 billion; and

19WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to offer
20the entire bioscience ecosystem in one location through seed
21capital, discovery research, emerging industry, contract
22laboratory organizations, medical devices and diagnostics
23companies, mature biopharmaceutical industry and global
24pharmaceuticals; therefore be it

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
2619, 2013, as "Life Sciences Day" in this Commonwealth and
27encourage all Pennsylvanians to learn more about this vibrant
28industry.