Bipartisan Caucus to Promote Biotech and Medical Industries

Life Sciences Caucus at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, co-chaired by Sen. Mike McLachlan.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Jason Welch (R-Bristol) joined fellow legislators launching the bipartisan life sciences caucus, co-chaired by Sen. McLachlan. The life sciences caucus will promote public policy that supports economic growth and scientific innovation in the state.

“As a policy maker I think we need to make every effort to educate ourselves about the evolving nature of the life sciences, Connecticut’s strengths and challenges in the field, and the measures that other states and countries are taking to establish themselves as leaders in the life sciences industry,” said Sen. Welch.

The life sciences include companies and employees in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies, life systems technologies, biomedical devices, and organizations and institutions that devote the majority of their efforts in the various stages of research, development, technology transfer and commercialization.

The Life Sciences Caucus will support the growth and expansion of these industries by meeting to discuss state policy and inviting local and national experts to come speak about their vision for the future of these industries in Connecticut.

At a press conference this week in Hartford, the caucus co-chairs expressed a belief that the life sciences industry is a key to Connecticut’s future economic success and job creation. Adding it is also vital to continued medical innovation which betters the lives of citizens, patients and health care consumers.

The group will meet quarterly to discuss state policy and to invite local and national speakers from industry, patient groups and academic research institutions to share their vision of the industry and to discuss policies that can lead to further economic growth, job creation and medical innovation.