1Designating April 29, 2014, as "Life Sciences Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

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,
8including vaccines against blood-based hepatitis B, rubella,
9rotavirus and polio, as well as the first simultaneous heart,
10liver and kidney transplant; and

11WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is the only state with 13 world-
12renowned research institutions and is home to the leading
13National Institutes of Health's award-recipient universities;
14and

15WHEREAS, The future of this Commonwealth's life sciences
16industry is bright, ranking fourth in the nation for life
17science-related patents and recognizing that the number of life

1science companies in this Commonwealth has increased 13% in the
2last five years; and

3WHEREAS, Business Facilities magazine has ranked this
4Commonwealth among the top three states during the last five
5years for biotechnology research, growth and development; and

6WHEREAS, This Commonwealth offers proximity to the regulatory
7bodies in Washington, DC, and the investment community in New
8York City, as well as a unique blend of talent ranging from
9recent graduates of this Commonwealth's numerous higher
10education institutions to the executives carrying on the legacy
11left by leaders such as the late Dr. Hubert J.P. Schoemaker and
12Frank Baldino, Jr. Ph.D.; and

13WHEREAS, The life sciences industry is a cornerstone of this
14Commonwealth's economic future, directly employing nearly 80,000
15workers, with a total employment impact of nearly 500,000 jobs
16and economic impact from wages alone totaling $8.15 billion; and

17WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to offer
18the entire bioscience ecosystem in one location through seed
19capital, discovery research, emerging industry, contract
20laboratory organizations, medical devices and diagnostics
21companies, mature biopharmaceutical industry and global
22pharmaceuticals; therefore be it

23RESOLVED, That the Senate designate April 29, 2014, as "Life
24Sciences Day" in this Commonwealth and encourage all
25Pennsylvanians to learn more about this vibrant industry.