California Congressman receives CHI's first-ever Leadership Award

Congressman and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA-22), was honored by CHI-California Healthcare Institute with the organization's first-ever Leadership Award. The award was presented by CHI Chairman Carl W. Hull, president and chief executive officer, Gen-Probe Incorporated; David L. Gollaher, Ph.D. president and CEO, CHI; David W. Beier, senior vice president, Global Government and Corporate Affairs, Amgen; John C. Martin, Ph.D., chairman and CEO, Gilead Sciences, and Steve E. Krognes, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Genentech, at a CHI dinner in Washington, D.C.

"Congressman McCarthy, since we first gave him our Visionary Award in 2005 when he was serving in the California Assembly, has been a leader in supporting the state's biomedical industry in its quest to maintain its innovation edge in the increasingly competitive 21^st century economy," said David Gollaher, Ph.D., CHI's president and CEO. "Now in only his third term in Congress, we are pleased to recognize him again for his continued leadership, such as through support of the pro-innovation biosimilars legislation, opposition to government price control efforts such as through drug importation and the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board, and his opposition to the medical device tax."

During two terms in the California state Assembly and throughout his service in Congress, Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) has been a principled champion of policies to strengthen and promote biomedical investment, innovation and job creation in California. He was first elected to represent the 22nd District of California in the United States House of Representatives in November 2006. For the 112th Congress, in only his third term, McCarthy was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Whip, the third most senior position in the House leadership. Prior to his election to Congress, McCarthy served in the California Assembly where, as a freshman legislator, he was selected unanimously by his Republican colleagues to serve as the Assembly Republican leader, becoming the first freshman to assume the top post. McCarthy is the first ever recipient of CHI awards for service in both Sacramento in state Legislature and Congress.

"I am honored to receive this award today," said McCarthy. "The California Healthcare Institute and its members are examples of the type of innovation that will not only generate job growth, but make the breakthroughs that will improve our quality of life and ensure California's continued leadership in the biomedical field. I remain committed to pushing for policies that create an environment where innovators like these can succeed and create jobs for our economy."