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
15industry is bright, ranking 4th in the nation for life science-
16related patents and recognizing that the number of life science
17companies in this Commonwealth has increased 13% in the last 5

1years; and

2WHEREAS, Business Facilities magazine has ranked this
3Commonwealth among the top 3 states during the last 5 years for
4biotechnology; and

5WHEREAS, This Commonwealth offers proximity to the regulatory
6bodies in Washington, DC, and the investment community in New
7York, as well as a unique blend of talent ranging from recent
8graduates of this Commonwealth's numerous higher education
9institutions to the executives carrying on the legacy left by
10leaders such as the late Dr. Hubert J.P. Schoemaker and Frank
11Baldino, Jr. Ph.D.; and

12WHEREAS, The life science industry is a cornerstone of this
13Commonwealth's economic future, directly employing nearly 80,000
14workers, a total employment impact of nearly 500,000 jobs and
15economic impact from wages alone totaling $8.15 billion; and

16WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is uniquely positioned to offer
17the entire bioscience ecosystem in one location through seed
18capital, discovery research, emerging industry, contract
19laboratory organizations, medical devices and diagnostics
20companies, mature biopharmaceutical industry and global
21pharmaceuticals; therefore be it

22RESOLVED, That the Senate designate March 19, 2013, as "Life
23Sciences Day" in this Commonwealth and encourage all
24Pennsylvanians to learn more about this vibrant industry.